Squawk Pod Anthropic’s Fight & The AI Job Revolution 3/11/26
Mar 11, 2026
Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and author who warns about AI reshaping jobs for young workers. Robert Frank, CNBC wealth reporter who tracks record art and supercar auctions. They discuss Microsoft backing Anthropic in its clash with the Pentagon, rapid AI advances threatening entry-level white-collar roles, policy ideas like taxing AI agents, and why the wealthy are piling into collectibles amid market volatility.
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Microsoft Steps Into Anthropic Pentagon Fight
- Microsoft publicly backed Anthropic's bid for a temporary restraining order to block the Pentagon labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk.
- The amicus brief argues a TRO avoids immediate disruptions to Pentagon contracts and forces rapid product reconfiguration by vendors like Microsoft.
Political Logic Undermines The Pentagon's Case
- The Anthropic dispute exposes political dimensions where government wants Anthropic tech but also labels it risky, creating apparent contradiction and legal vulnerability.
- Microsoft and ~130 Silicon Valley developers filed supporting briefs, while some other big companies stayed silent or opposed, highlighting corporate calculus.
Microsoft's Calculated Political Risk
- Microsoft backing Anthropic has reputational risk because it's a major government contractor, making its support more consequential.
- Becky Quick notes Microsoft likely calculated political costs and leverage given deep government integration.