Google has granted the United States Department of Defense access to its artificial intelligence systems for use on classified networks, allowing all lawful applications, according to several news reports.
TechCrunch reported that the arrangement follows a public dispute involving Anthropic, which declined to offer the Pentagon similar terms. The Department of Defense sought unrestricted use of artificial intelligence, while Anthropic pressed for safeguards to prevent deployment in domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
After Anthropic declined those conditions, the Pentagon labelled the company a “supply-chain risk”, a term generally reserved for foreign adversaries. The two sides are now engaged in legal proceedings, with a judge last month issuing an injunction in favour of Anthropic while the case continues.
Google is the third artificial intelligence firm to pursue such an agreement after Anthropic’s refusal. OpenAI and xAI also entered into arrangements with the Pentagon. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google’s agreement includes wording stating that it does not intend its systems to be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, similar to provisions in OpenAI’s contract. It remains unclear whether such clauses carry legal force or can be enforced.
The agreement comes despite opposition within Google, where 950 employees signed an open letter urging the company to follow Anthropic’s position and refrain from supplying artificial intelligence to the Department of Defense without comparable safeguards. Google did not issue a comment.
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