Pentagon signs AI deals with 7 firms, excludes Anthropic

The US Department of Defence has struck a sweeping new Pentagon AI deal with some of the world’s largest technology companies, marking a major escalation in the military’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into warfare. Missing from the list is one of the industry’s most prominent players: Anthropic.

Announced on Friday, the agreement brings together firms including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon Web Services and SpaceX to deploy AI tools across classified defence networks.

According to the Pentagon, the software would assist in enabling "lawful operational use" and in transforming the U.S. military into an "AI-first fighting force."

The objective is to enhance decision-making speed and ensure an advantage on contemporary battlefields.

The department pointed out its own platform named GenAI.mil, which has been utilised by over 1.3 million personnel. This shows how quickly the adoption of artificial intelligence is taking place within defence infrastructures.

On the other hand, the exclusion of Anthropic is due to disagreement over the potential usage of their AI systems. The company insisted on rigorous safety protocols, especially for autonomous weaponry and surveillance.

After negotiations broke down, the Trump administration labelled Anthropic a “supply chain risk”, effectively blocking it from government contracts. The move placed the firm in a category typically reserved for foreign-linked threats.

The company contested the ruling in court, and a judge in California has recently ruled against enforcing the blacklist. Despite the strained relations, the conversations between the company and the White House have been revived recently.

The revival of negotiations comes after the launch of Anthropic’s Mythos, a software application that detects cybersecurity threats and can also map out the strategies for attacks.

The AI deal by the Pentagon further highlights the growing rivalry among the tech industry players in winning defence contracts.