Google strikes 'secret' deal with Pentagon on artificial intelligence, despite employee protests
Google has signed an agreement with the War Department to use its artificial intelligence models in classified projects, despite opposition from some employees, according to a report published by The Information.
The Pentagon values Artificial Intelligence/PHOTO: EPA/EFE
Under the agreement, military officials could use the company's AI technology for “any lawful government purpose.” Thus, Google joins other major players in the field, such as OpenAI and xAI, which have in turn concluded agreements with the Pentagon.
According to available information, in 2025, the US Department of War signed contracts worth up to 200 million dollars with several major companies in the field of artificial intelligence, including Google. A spokesperson for Google's Public Sector division said the new agreement is an “extension” of an existing contract.
The decision comes shortly after more than 500 artificial intelligence researchers at Alphabet Inc. signed an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai demanding the company stop providing AI technology for secret Pentagon projects.
In parallel, other companies in the sector had different experiences in the relationship with the American authorities. Anthropic, the developer of the Claude chatbot, quickly integrated its technology into military systems for data analysis and identification of potential targets. The collaboration was later suspended after the company tried to introduce guarantees that the technology would not be used in mass surveillance or lethal autonomous weapons.
The US government and Anthropic are currently in a dispute over the legality of the decision to stop cooperation. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has turned its attention to other AI providers, including Google and OpenAI.
The developments underscore the growing debate over the role of artificial intelligence technologies in the military and the ethical limits of their use.
