Google has signed an agreement with the US Department of Defense to provide its AI models, including Gemini, for classified military operations. The deal, reported by The Information, allows the Pentagon to use Google's AI for any lawful government purpose, including mission planning and weapons targeting. This move places Google alongside OpenAI and xAI in supplying AI for sensitive defense work.
The agreement includes provisions for Google to adjust AI safety settings and filters at the government's request, but it explicitly states the AI should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without human oversight. However, these limitations do not restrict government authority, according to the contract.
The partnership has sparked significant internal backlash, with over 600 Google employees, including those from DeepMind and Google Cloud, sending a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging him to reject classified military work. Employees cited concerns over lethal autonomous weapons, mass surveillance, and the inability to monitor AI use in secret operations. They warned that such a deal could damage Google's reputation and business.
Tensions have been heightened by the Trump administration's aggressive stance on military AI use, including threats to bomb infrastructure in Iran. The Pentagon has been pushing AI firms for broader access, signing deals worth up to $200 million each with major labs in 2025. Anthropic's similar partnership was cut off in February, leading to a court battle over contract terms.
This is not Google's first controversy over military AI. In 2018, employees protested a drone imagery project, leading Google to drop the contract and create an AI pledge. However, Google dropped those limits last year and signed a Pentagon deal in December. Investor Stanley Druckenmiller has increased his Alphabet stake, highlighting its AI strength and vertically integrated model.
