The Pentagon has announced agreements with eight leading artificial intelligence companies, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, to integrate their technology into classified defense operations. These partnerships aim to enhance military capabilities with advanced AI resources. Notably, Anthropic is absent from the list following a public dispute over AI ethics with the Trump administration.

The Pentagon says it has reached agreements with eight AI companies to use their technology in classified defence settings. The military will have access to resources provided by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Oracle, OpenAI, SpaceX, and the startup Reflection. Absent from the list is Anthropic, following its public dispute and legal battle with the Trump administration over AI ethics. Peter O’Brien looks at how these developments came about.