Anthropic now requires new Claude users to verify identity with photo ID

No way I would agree to that. It’s already bad that Anthropic asks for a phone number, when other services don’t. People have a right to use AI anonymously just like they have a right to access the Internet without age verification or other violations of privacy. Otherwise, everything you say and search for could be used against you. Maybe even in a court.

But worse, on top of that, they’re using Persona? This is the company that is apparently linked to Peter Thiel and Palantir (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47021421). Discord ended up cutting ties with Persona (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47136036). And allegedly Persona might be sharing the data you submit to them with the federal government (https://cybernews.com/privacy/persona-leak-exposes-global-su...).

Anthropic seems to be losing the plot. It’s getting harder and harder to trust them as they keep making changes without transparency, and making changes like this. I’m sure they will claim they have good reasons - like blocking Chinese AI companies from distilling Claude or whatever - but this makes me view Anthropic the same way I view Palantir.

Impatiently waiting for the AI bubble to pop so that both environment and a common consumer and buyer of computer parts can have some relief.