As the ‘Cancel ChatGPT’ trend gains traction across social media, AI firm Anthropic has introduced a new feature aimed at attracting users considering a switch to Claude. The company announced on Monday, via its official Claude handle on Threads, that users can now import saved memories from other AI chatbots directly into Claude.
The move appears timed to capitalise on growing online conversations around the future of AI tools and their role in government and military partnerships. However, Anthropic has limited the feature to its paid subscribers, allowing only them to transfer chatbot memories.
Feature launch amid rising competition
The update comes as competition intensifies among major AI players. Google was recently reported to be working on a similar capability for Gemini, enabling memory transfers from other chatbots. With this rollout, Anthropic appears to have moved ahead in offering such a function.
Also Read | Donald Trump orders US agencies to stop using Anthropic’s Claude AI, sets six-month deadline
Claude’s new import feature is positioned as a way to make switching platforms easier, especially for users who rely on saved preferences and long-term conversational context.
Policy tensions spark online backlash
The broader debate intensified after the Pentagon cancelled its deal with Anthropic. The company had reportedly declined to compromise on two non-negotiable conditions regarding Claude’s military use: no mass domestic surveillance and no fully autonomous weapons.
Soon after, US President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI, citing national security concerns. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the company would be designated a "supply chain risk to national security."
On the same day, OpenAI announced a partnership with the US government to deploy its AI models in classified environments. The company outlined three red lines, including restrictions on mass domestic surveillance, direct autonomous weapons systems and high-stakes automated decisions.
Also Read | Claude AI overtakes ChatGPT to become No.1 free app on Apple App Store in the US
‘Cancel ChatGPT’ gathers momentum
The announcement triggered strong reactions online. Reddit forums dedicated to ChatGPT and OpenAI saw a surge in posts expressing concern over military use of AI. Several users shared screenshots of cancelled subscriptions, while others voiced support for Claude.
"We're all in the death business now that OpenAI has succumbed to the corrupt Department of War. Let's see proof of your cancellation boys and girls [sic]", a user wrote.
"With a heavy heart, I have cancelled my ChatGPT subscription. No longer will I fund the machine that creates summaries that I only skim of articles that I will never read [sic]," wrote another.
Amid the debate, Claude climbed to the top spot among free apps on the Apple US App Store, surpassing ChatGPT.
