In partnership with

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

AI won't take over the world. People who know how to use AI will.

Here's how to stay ahead with AI:

1. Sign up for Superhuman AI. The AI newsletter read by 1M+ pros.

2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day.

3. Become 10X more productive using AI.

Join 1 million pros and start learning AI

Hey, Josh here. This one is wild!

The Pentagon Just Handed Out $800 Million to AI Companies

Your tax dollars are about to fund something that sounds like science fiction.

The Defense Department just wrote checks for $200 million each to four AI companies: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Elon Musk's xAI. That's $800 million total. And here's the kicker - they want these companies to build AI that can make military decisions on its own.

No human required.

What They're Actually Building

The Pentagon isn't being subtle about this. They want "agentic AI workflows" - fancy talk for AI that can plan and execute tasks without someone holding its hand.

Think about that for a second. AI that can analyze a situation, make a plan, and carry it out. In military contexts.

The contracts focus on three main areas:

AI agents that work alone. These systems will help with mission planning and problem-solving. The Pentagon wants AI that can look at a complex military situation and figure out what to do next.

Advanced language models. You know ChatGPT? Now imagine a military version that can process classified intelligence and write briefings. That's what they're building.

Real-time decision support. Picture a commander in a crisis. Instead of waiting for analysts to crunch numbers, they get instant AI-powered insights about their options.

The scary part? This isn't theoretical. They're already testing these systems.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Here's what nobody's talking about: the Pentagon is betting everything on commercial AI companies.

For decades, the military built its own tech. Custom systems. Controlled environments. Now they're saying "forget that" and buying off-the-shelf AI from Silicon Valley.

But here's the problem. These companies change their models constantly. What happens when OpenAI updates GPT and suddenly the military's decision-making system works differently?

What happens when Elon Musk gets mad at the government and threatens to pull xAI's support?

The military is handing over critical capabilities to private companies with their own agendas.

The Money Trail

Let's follow the money. Each company is getting up to $200 million over two years. That's not just payment - it's investment in a vision where AI makes military decisions.

OpenAI launched "OpenAI for Government" right before landing their contract. Coincidence? Probably not.

Anthropic is building "Claude Gov" - a special military version of their AI. They're not just adapting existing tech. They're building new AI specifically for warfare.

Google is providing the computing power to train these systems. And xAI? They're packaging everything into "Grok for Government" so every federal agency can buy their AI.

This isn't just about the Defense Department anymore. It's about AI companies colonizing the entire federal government.

What Could Go Wrong

The companies promise their AI will be "safe" and "responsible." But let's be honest - have you ever seen a perfect AI system?

These models make mistakes. They hallucinate. They can be manipulated. And now we're putting them in charge of military decisions.

The Pentagon says they're testing everything rigorously. But they're also using "rapid contracting" to skip traditional procurement rules. Speed over safety.

Congress is starting to ask questions. Some senators want more oversight. But the contracts are already signed.

The Real Game

This isn't just about military AI. It's about control.

The four companies getting these contracts? They're the same ones dominating civilian AI. Now they're positioning themselves as the exclusive providers of AI to the government.

Think about the leverage that creates. When your AI system is running military operations, you don't just have a customer. You have a dependent.

And if something goes wrong? If the AI makes a bad decision or gets hacked? The blame won't fall on the companies that built it. It'll fall on the government that bought it.

What Happens Next

The Pentagon is moving fast. These prototypes will be tested and deployed within two years. Once they prove the concept works, expect much bigger contracts.

We're witnessing the birth of a new military-industrial complex. But instead of weapons manufacturers, it's AI companies.

The question isn't whether this will change warfare. It's whether we'll still control the systems we're building.

Your tax dollars are funding AI that might make decisions about war and peace. The companies building it answer to shareholders, not voters.

And once these systems are deployed, turning them off won't be as simple as canceling a contract.

The future of military AI is being written right now. With your money. By private companies. Whether you like it or not.