Pentagon signs secret AI deals with OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia, bypassing Anthropic
▼ Summary
– The Pentagon signed agreements with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, xAI, and Reflection to use their AI tools in classified settings.
– Anthropic was excluded from these deals after the Defense Department declared it a supply-chain risk, despite prior use for classified information.
– These agreements build on previous deals with OpenAI and xAI for the “lawful” use of their AI systems by the Pentagon.
– A report from The Information indicates Google has also reached a similar classified AI agreement with the Pentagon.
– The deals cover multiple major AI companies, expanding the Pentagon’s access to advanced AI for classified work.
The Pentagon has quietly secured classified AI agreements with a powerful roster of tech giants,OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Elon Musk’s xAI, and startup Reflection,while conspicuously excluding Anthropic, a previous contractor, after labeling it a supply-chain risk. The Defense Department made the announcement on Friday, marking a significant expansion of its AI integration into sensitive and secret operations.
This latest move builds on earlier, smaller-scale pacts. Both OpenAI and xAI had already inked deals with the Pentagon for what the agency describes as “lawful” use of their artificial intelligence systems. According to The Information, Google has also finalized a similar classified arrangement, while The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft and Amazon are now part of the expanded network. Nvidia, the dominant chipmaker powering much of the AI industry, and Reflection, a lesser-known startup, round out the list of approved vendors.
The most striking omission is Anthropic, the AI safety-focused company behind the Claude model. The Pentagon previously used Anthropic’s technology for classified work, but has now designated the firm a supply-chain risk, effectively barring it from these new contracts. No further details were provided on what prompted that designation, but the decision underscores the Pentagon’s growing willingness to pick and choose among AI partners based on security assessments.
These classified agreements allow the Pentagon to deploy advanced AI tools,including large language models, data analysis platforms, and autonomous systems,within secure networks, potentially reshaping how the military processes intelligence, plans operations, and makes decisions. The deals also signal a deepening relationship between the defense establishment and Silicon Valley, even as debates over the ethical use of AI in warfare continue to intensify.
(Source: The Verge)
