Google signs classified deal allowing US Department of Defense to use its AI models for "any lawful government purpose"

Google has agreed to a classified deal permitting the US Department of Defense to use its AI models for "any lawful government purpose," according to The Information. The agreement was reported less than a day after Google employees demanded CEO Sundar Pichai block Pentagon access to the AI.

The deal states that Google's AI systems should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons "without appropriate human oversight and control." However, the contract also specifies it does not give Google "any right to control or veto lawful government operational decision-making." Google is also required to assist with adjusting its AI safety settings and filters at the government's request.

Google now joins OpenAI and xAI as companies with classified AI deals with the US government. Anthropic was previously blacklisted by the Pentagon for refusing demands to remove weapon and surveillance-related guardrails from its AI models.