Pentagon Secures AI Deals with Seven Firms While Requesting $54 bn for Autonomous Weapons

The Department of Defense announced Friday that it has formalised partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection AI, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. The contracts allow the military to deploy each company’s technology for any lawful use, a clause that some firms, notably Anthropic, have resisted.

In a statement, the Pentagon said the deals will “accelerate the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI‑first fighting force” and improve warfighters’ decision superiority across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains. The agencies will integrate the partners into Impact Levels 6 and 7 network environments, which are designed to streamline data synthesis and enhance situational awareness.

Separately, the defense budget request includes $54 bn earmarked for autonomous weapons – systems that can select and engage targets without direct human input. This figure represents a significant portion of the department’s broader investment in AI, drone warfare and advanced communications.

Reflection AI, a two‑year‑old startup aiming to produce open‑source models as a counter to Chinese AI firms, is among the new partners. The company is seeking a $25 bn valuation and has secured backing from Nvidia and 1789 Capital, a venture fund linked to Donald Trump Jr.

The agreements arrive amid ongoing disputes over AI ethics and security. Anthropic, creator of the Claude chatbot, rejected the lawful‑use clause, fearing its tools could be repurposed for domestic surveillance or fully autonomous lethal systems. The Pentagon responded by labeling Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, barring its products from defense contracts.

Industry analysts note that the contracts could pressure holdout firms to renegotiate, but they also raise questions about oversight, cost‑effectiveness and the potential for AI to be used in ways that blur the line between combat and policing.

What to watch next: congressional hearings on the autonomous‑weapon budget and any legal challenges from AI firms over the lawful‑use provisions.