AI enters the top-secret system! The U.S. Department of Defense has contracted with 8 major companies, and 1.3 million people are using GenAI.mil

The U.S. Department of Defense signs agreements, partnering with eight giants including OpenAI and Nvidia to integrate AI into top-secret networks. This move aims to accelerate military transformation, enhance battlefield decision-making, and solidify intelligence advantages.

Pentagon teams up with 8 major tech companies, AI enters top-secret level systems

The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced that it has signed agreements with eight tech companies, including SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and Reflection, to officially deploy advanced artificial intelligence technology within military classified network environments.

This deployment covers the highest levels of defense networks, “Impact Level 6 (IL6)” and “Impact Level 7 (IL7),” with the former primarily handling classified military data, and the latter involving more sensitive national security information. The Department of Defense states that these AI systems will operate on highly isolated and strictly controlled infrastructure, complying with security clearances, access permissions, and network segregation requirements.

The official statement emphasizes that this move will accelerate the U.S. military’s transformation into an “AI-first fighting force,” strengthening battlefield decision-making and intelligence advantages, enabling military units to maintain a lead in information and response speed across multiple domains.

GenAI.mil Rapid Expansion, 1.3 Million Personnel Adopt AI for Daily Operations

The Department of Defense also revealed that its internal AI platform “GenAI.mil” is now operational, attracting over 1.3 million military and administrative personnel within just five months, handling tens of millions of command requests, and deploying hundreds of thousands of AI agents.

The platform integrates technology from multiple vendors, supporting functions such as intelligence analysis, battlefield situational awareness, and decision support, emphasizing a multi-vendor approach to ensure architectural flexibility and supply chain security.

From a budget perspective, the U.S. Department of Defense’s total budget request for 2026 reaches $961.6 billion, with approximately $33.7 billion allocated to science, technology, and autonomous systems development, indicating that AI has become a core investment in military modernization.

Additionally, in recent years, the Department of Defense has collaborated with several AI companies, including deploying models similar to ChatGPT and building operational planning systems. This expansion into classified network levels is seen as a significant milestone in AI military applications.

Excluding Anthropic sparks controversy, political risks in AI supply chain emerge

Notably, Anthropic was not included in this list of partners. The Department of Defense previously designated the company as a “supply chain risk” and excluded its products from military systems.

Analysts suggest this move is related to Anthropic’s refusal to relax restrictions on AI use in surveillance and autonomous weapons, leading to policy disagreements with the government. The company has challenged this legally, claiming it constitutes improper retaliation.

However, other U.S. government agencies’ attitudes toward Anthropic are not consistent; for example, the Treasury Department and national security agencies still show interest in its next-generation models and even plan to incorporate them into some systems. This inter-agency policy divergence highlights the tension between AI’s role in national security and ethical considerations.

Military AI Accelerates Deployment, Transparency and Risk Management Become Focuses

As AI officially enters top-secret military environments, concerns about potential risks are rising. Experts warn that decision-making in high-risk scenarios without sufficient oversight could lead to errors or even fatal outcomes.

U.S. tech policy groups also question whether the Department of Defense has clearly explained how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield, including whether it will expand surveillance scope or involve data collection on citizens.

Nevertheless, the Department of Defense emphasizes that, in the face of rapidly evolving future warfare, AI has become an indispensable strategic tool. With tech giants deeply involved in the defense system, artificial intelligence is no longer just an auxiliary tool but is gradually becoming a critical infrastructure for military advantage.

This article is compiled by the Crypto Agent from various sources, reviewed and edited by “Crypto City.” It is still in the training phase and may contain logical biases or informational errors. Content is for reference only; do not consider it investment advice.