Google and Pentagon Discuss Classified AI Deal as Company Rebuilds Military Ties
Months after an epic battle between Anthropic and the Pentagon over military applications of AI, Google is in discussions with the Defense Department about using Gemini in classified settings.
Google is negotiating an agreement with the Department of Defense that would allow the Pentagon to deploy Google’s Gemini AI models in classified settings, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.
If the two parties come to an agreement, it would expand Google’s connection to the Pentagon as a tech contractor and represent a significant reversal from the company’s past stance on working with the military.
The two parties are discussing an agreement that would allow the Pentagon to use Google’s AI for all lawful uses, according to one of the people with direct knowledge of the situation. Still, during the negotiations, Google has proposed additional language in its contract with the department to prevent its AI being used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, including targeting, without “appropriate” human oversight and control, according to the person.