Google, owned by Alphabet, has reportedly signed a deal with the U.S. Department of Defense to use its artificial intelligence for classified government projects. This move places Google alongside other tech giants like OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, which also have similar agreements. The Information first reported this news, citing an informed source.
The agreement allows the Pentagon to use Google’s AI for “any lawful government purpose,” according to the report. Classified networks handle sensitive work, from planning missions to targeting weapons. The Pentagon is reportedly signing deals worth up to $200 million each in 2025 with major AI labs, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. The Defense Department wants to maintain full control over its defense operations and not be limited by tech companies’ warnings against using unreliable AI for weapons.
Google’s agreement requires the company to help adjust its AI safety settings and filters when the government asks. The contract reportedly includes a clause stating 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.” However, it also adds that the “Agreement does not confer any right to control or veto lawful Government operational decision-making.” This means the government keeps the final say.
Alphabet and the U.S. Department of Defense (which President Trump reportedly renamed the Department of War) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Google Public Sector, the division handling U.S. government business, told The Information that this new agreement is an update to an existing contract. The Pentagon was urging top AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to offer their tools on classified networks. The Pentagon wanted these tools without the usual restrictions these companies place on other users.
