Pentagon strikes classified AI deals with OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia — but not Anthropic
TL;DR
The Pentagon has struck deals with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Elon Musk's xAI, and the startup Reflection, allowing the agency to use their AI tools in classified settings. The Defense Department has left out Anthropic — which it previously used for classified information — after declaring it a supply-chain risk. The move significantly widens the circle of preferred partners for military AI applications.
Nauti's Take
Upside: OpenAI, Google, Nvidia and xAI get a massive Pentagon tailwind — good for engineering, cash flow and US strategic AI sovereignty. The catch: pushing Anthropic out over 'supply-chain risk' looks politically loaded and sends an awkward signal to anyone betting on safety-first vendors.
For tech teams in Europe this means a closer look at who's in which contract — and which models stay viable in sensitive contexts.
Sources