Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon Broaden Applications of Classified Military AI
Pentagon Secures Expanded Use of AI Tools from Major Tech Companies
The US Defense Department has struck agreements with four more technology companies, including Nvidia Corp., Microsoft Corp., Reflection AI Inc., and Amazon.com Inc., for the expanded use of advanced artificial intelligence tools on classified military networks. The deals, announced in a Defense Department statement, grant the Pentagon wide leeway to use powerful AI technologies for secret combat operations, including targeting.
The agreements were reached after the Pentagon sought to expand the terms of use since the fall of 2025, a period marked by an acrimonious fracture between the Defense Department and Anthropic PBC over the looming risks of AI at war. Anthropic's agreement with the Pentagon was torpedoed earlier this year due to the company's concerns over the use of its Claude tool in mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems.
The new agreements provide the Pentagon with the flexibility to use AI tools from multiple companies, reducing its dependence on a single provider. The deals also mark the first official Pentagon confirmation of a new agreement with Google, which was reported earlier this week.
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The Pentagon's efforts to deliver new deals with technology companies for maximalist military use of advanced AI come as the agency is racing to develop viable alternatives to Anthropic's Claude tool. The tool is currently being used for US military operations against Iran, and a six-month window has been set to replace it.
The new agreements give the Pentagon significant latitude to use AI tools, including for autonomous weapons systems development. However, the agency has committed to ensuring that its use of any AI models or capabilities is consistent with the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Americans under law.
| Company | Previous Terms of Use | New Terms of Use |
|---|---|---|
| Nvidia | Restricted usage policies | No usage policies or model licenses that restrict Defense Department use beyond US law and constitutional authority |
| Microsoft | Limited usage | Expanded usage for secret combat operations |
| Reflection AI | Restricted usage | Expanded usage for secret combat operations |
| Amazon | Limited usage | Expanded usage for secret combat operations |
The Pentagon's chief digital and AI officer, Cameron Stanley, described the new deals as accelerating the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI-first fighting force. The effort is aimed at equipping the US military with cutting-edge AI at the classified level to support "human-machine teams" that can handle immense volumes of data.
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However, several campaign groups have highlighted the risks of relying on unpredictable AI-assisted systems in support of life-and-death decisions. AI systems can be prone to error and can lead to automation bias, or a tendency to trust machine outputs over human reasoning.
Investor Takeaway
Investors should monitor the implications of expanded AI use in the military sector on the companies involved.
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