Alphabet’s Google joined a growing list of technology firms to sign a deal with the US Department of Defence to use its artificial intelligence models for classified work, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The agreement allows the Pentagon to use Google’s AI for “any lawful government purpose”, the report added, putting it alongside OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, which also have deals to supply AI models for classified use.
Classified networks are used to handle a wide range of sensitive work, including mission planning and weapons targeting.
The Pentagon signed agreements worth up to $200 million each with major AI labs in 2025, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. The Pentagon is seeking to preserve all flexibility in defence and not be limited by warnings from the technology’s creators against powering weapons with unreliable AI.