The Pentagon has signed agreements with seven AI companies, including SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Reflection. They are set to work on classified military projects and have accepted the use of their technology for “any lawful purpose.” Anthropic was left out after rejecting that clause over concerns about domestic surveillance and autonomous lethal weapons.
The Department of Defense says the contracts will support an “AI-focused fighting force” and improve military decision-making. Critics warn of risks around public spending, cybersecurity, and surveillance. The agreements also increase pressure on Anthropic, whose “Mythos” model has put authorities on alert because of its cybersecurity capabilities.