Google signs classified Pentagon deal allowing “any lawful” use of its AI, giving the company no right to veto government decisions

Google signed a classified deal with the U.S. Department of Defense allowing its AI models to be used for any lawful government purpose, with the contract explicitly stating that Google has no right to control or veto lawful government operational decision-making, according to The Information. The agreement includes non-binding language stating the parties have agreed Google's AI should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without appropriate human oversight, and requires Google to assist with adjusting its AI safety settings and filters at the government's request. The deal puts Google alongside OpenAI and xAI, which have also signed classified AI deals with the Pentagon, and contrasts with Anthropic, which was blacklisted by the Department of Defense after refusing to remove weapon and surveillance-related guardrails from its models — the same guardrails Google has now apparently agreed to modify on request.