Google signs AI deal with Pentagon for classified work: report
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Google has reportedly signed an agreement with the United States Department of Defense allowing its artificial intelligence models to be used for classified government work, according to a report by The Information.
The deal reportedly permits the Pentagon to use Google’s AI systems for “any lawful government purpose,” placing the company alongside firms such as OpenAI and xAI, which also have agreements for classified AI use.
Classified military networks are used for sensitive operations, including mission planning and weapons targeting. The Pentagon signed AI-related agreements worth up to $200 million each with companies including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic in 2025.
According to the report, Google’s agreement includes provisions allowing the government to request adjustments to the company’s AI safety settings and filters.
The contract reportedly states that the AI systems should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without human oversight. However, it also says Google cannot veto lawful government operational decisions.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the report.
Google said it supports both classified and non-classified government projects and maintained that it opposes the use of AI for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weaponry without human control.
The deal has reportedly sparked concern among employees. More than 600 Google workers signed an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging the company not to make its AI systems available for classified military workloads.
Employees said they feared the technology could be used in harmful or unethical ways.
The issue has previously caused internal conflict at Google. In 2018, employee protests forced the company not to renew its involvement in Project Maven, a Pentagon initiative that used AI to analyse drone surveillance footage.
Last year, Google parent Alphabet removed language from its AI ethics guidelines that had prohibited work on technologies likely to cause harm, with AI chief Demis Hassabis saying AI had become important for national security.