US strikes deals with OpenAI, Google, SpaceX, and others for classified military AI work
Primary region US
Tags Security · Policy
Regions US
The Pentagon announced agreements with seven major technology companies including OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, SpaceX, Amazon, and Microsoft to deploy their technology for classified military use under 'any lawful use' terms. The Department of Defense requested $54 billion for autonomous weapons development. Anthropic was notably excluded after refusing to accept the 'any lawful use' clause. The companies will be integrated into Pentagon Impact Levels 6 and 7 classified network environments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled an AI acceleration strategy in January 2026 to transform the US military into an 'AI-first fighting force.'
Strategic interpretation
The 'any lawful use' contract terms grant the Pentagon maximum flexibility to deploy commercial AI across all military functions, including autonomous weapons systems, without additional negotiations. Anthropic's exclusion creates a market incentive for other companies to accept expansive terms if they want defense contracts. The $54 billion autonomous weapons budget signals a structural shift in US military procurement priorities. This convergence of commercial AI and classified military networks raises novel oversight challenges for Congress and raises questions about whether existing legal frameworks for lethal autonomous weapons are adequate.