WASHINGTON: The United States Department of Defense has announced agreements with seven major artificial intelligence companies to integrate their advanced capabilities into its classified defence networks.
In a statement, the Pentagon said the objective of these partnerships is to expand the number of AI providers supporting the military and enhance technological capabilities across defence operations. However, Anthropic was notably excluded from the list amid an ongoing dispute over AI usage rules and regulations.
According to reports, the Department of Defense earlier this year classified Anthropic as a “supply chain risk” and restricted its use, barring the company’s technology from being used by Pentagon contractors.
The newly included companies are SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection AI, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. These firms will be integrated into the Pentagon’s IL6 and IL7 secure networks, providing broader access to AI tools for military personnel.
Officials said AI is increasingly being used in military planning, logistics, targeting, and other operational functions, helping improve the speed and efficiency of large-scale operations.
The Pentagon also noted that its central AI platform, GenAI.mil, has already been used by more than 1.3 million defence personnel over the past five months, highlighting the rapid expansion of AI adoption within the US military.