Pentagon Expands AI Use Across Military Operations
The Pentagon has signed contracts with eight major technology companies to deploy artificial intelligence across military operations, marking a significant expansion of the US military's AI capabilities.
The agreements cover Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft, SpaceX, Oracle, Nvidia, and the startup Reflection. Under these contracts, AI technology can now be used for any "lawful operational use" across the defence department.
The Pentagon said the partnerships would transform the US military into an "AI-first fighting force" while reducing dependence on any single vendor. More than one million defence department personnel have already used the military's AI platform since its launch last year, with many tasks completed in days rather than months.
Anthropic's Absence
Conspicuously absent from the agreements is Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude. Anthropic declined to accept "any lawful use" language in its own contract with the Pentagon, citing concerns about potential military applications and domestic surveillance.
The company is now suing the government after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled it a "supply chain risk" earlier this year. Anthropic's legal challenge is expected to reach court in September.
Anthropic's tools remain in use across multiple US government and defence agencies. The company was the first AI vendor deployed for classified work in the government.
OpenAI and Google Lead Expansion
OpenAI was the first company to sign a new Pentagon contract, in late February. A company spokeswoman said Friday's announcement simply formalized that existing agreement.
Google's Gemini chatbot was already in use by some government agencies. The new contracts mark the first time Gemini will handle classified government work. Hundreds of Google employees, including staff from DeepMind, recently urged company leadership to limit its military work.
Other Vendors
Nvidia and Reflection will provide open-source AI models for government use. Nvidia is not supplying hardware as part of the deal.
Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle will continue providing cloud services for government and military operations. These vendors have supported classified government work for years.
SpaceX is now the parent company of xAI, Elon Musk's AI startup. The company operates the Grok chatbot, though it is considered less advanced than competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI.
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