Google signs classified AI deal with Pentagon, The Information reports

Washington: 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”, ​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.

Google's agreement requires ​it to help in adjusting the company's AI safety settings and filters at ​the government's request.

The contract includes language noting "the parties agree that the AI System is not ‌intended ⁠for, and should not be used for, domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons (including target selection) without appropriate human oversight and control", but also adds that the “Agreement does not confer any right to control or veto lawful ​Government operational decision-making”.

Reuters could not verify ⁠the report. Alphabet and the US Department of Defence, which has now been renamed the Department of War by President ​Donald Trump, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson ​for Google ⁠Public Sector, the unit that handles US government business, told The Information that the new agreement is an amendment to its existing contract.

Reuters had earlier reported that the ⁠Pentagon had ​been pushing top AI companies such as OpenAI ​and Anthropic to make their tools available on classified networks without the standard restrictions they apply ​to users.