Google Signs Classified Pentagon AI Contract as 600+ Employees Sign Open Letter Opposing the Deal

Google signed a classified AI contract allowing the Pentagon to use Gemini models for 'any lawful governmental purpose' on classified networks, mirroring similar agreements previously signed by OpenAI and xAI. More than 600 Google DeepMind and Cloud employees signed an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging the company to reject classified military AI work. Google leadership has refused to reverse course, unlike the 2018 Project Maven backlash when 4,000 employees protested and 12 resigned, forcing Google to let that contract expire. The 2018 protest led to Google's AI principles; the 2026 response shows employee leverage has diminished.