The Pentagon has announced agreements with seven major artificial intelligence companies to deploy their technologies across classified military networks, marking a significant expansion of AI use in defence operations.
According to the statement, firms including SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services will integrate their AI systems into sensitive defence platforms used for mission planning, weapons targeting and intelligence analysis.
Notably absent from the list is Anthropic, which is currently in dispute with the Defense Department over restrictions on how its AI tools can be used. The company had raised concerns about its technology being applied to mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems.
The US military has already begun reducing reliance on Anthropic’s AI systems, and earlier this year, the company was designated a supply-chain risk, restricting its use across military operations and contractors.
US President Donald Trump had also directed government agencies in February to stop using Anthropic’s technology.
A senior Pentagon technology official said the move reflects a broader strategy to avoid dependence on a single AI provider and to diversify capabilities. The agreements reportedly include both proprietary and open-source AI models, offering greater flexibility and operational control.
The Pentagon added that its internal AI platform, GenAI.mil, is already widely used by personnel, supporting millions of queries and operational processes within a short span.
The announcement comes as the US government accelerates efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into military systems, amid growing global competition in defence technologies.
