The Pentagon in Washington, DC.
The United States Department of Defense has announced a new agreement with seven major artificial intelligence companies to deploy advanced technologies across its classified networks, marking a significant step in its push to become an “AI-first” military.
In a statement on Friday, the Pentagon confirmed partnerships with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, SpaceX, and Reflection. The collaboration is aimed at strengthening decision-making capabilities, improving situational awareness, and enhancing operational efficiency across military domains.
According to the Pentagon, the technologies will be integrated into its most secure systems to streamline data analysis and support complex battlefield decisions. The department said the initiative will “accelerate transformation” and ensure strategic superiority in modern warfare.
Notably absent from the agreement is Anthropic, which has been in a dispute with the Pentagon over access to its Claude AI system. The company reportedly resisted demands for unrestricted use of its technology, citing concerns over potential applications in surveillance and autonomous weapons. The Pentagon subsequently labelled Anthropic a “supply chain risk,” and both parties remain engaged in a legal standoff.
The Defense Department revealed that more than 1.3 million personnel are already using its internal AI platform, GenAI.mil, to improve efficiency, with tasks previously taking months now completed in days. It also emphasised efforts to avoid overdependence on a single vendor.
The expansion of AI use by the US military comes amid growing scrutiny. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about the application of such technologies in surveillance and military operations, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts and domestic enforcement activities.
During a recent Senate hearing, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on safeguards to prevent civilian harm. Hegseth maintained that the US military remains committed to protecting civilian lives, regardless of the systems employed.
