Google signs classified artificial-intelligence pact with the U.S. Pentagon

Google has reached a deal to provide its artificial-intelligence models for classified U.S. Defense Department use, joining other Silicon Valley firms supplying AI capabilities to the Pentagon. The agreement permits use of Google’s models for any lawful government purpose and includes provisions to adjust safety filters at the government’s request, while stating the systems are not intended for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without human oversight. The move follows Pentagon contracts worth up to $200 million each with multiple AI labs and comes amid internal dissent, with hundreds of Google employees urging CEO Sundar Pichai to reject making AI available for classified workloads. Google said API access to its commercial models on Google infrastructure reflects a responsible approach to national security; the Pentagon declined to comment.

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