Google LLC Signs Classified AI Deal Despite Massive Employee Protest

Google LLC signed a confidential agreement with the United States Department of War — recently renamed from the Department of Defense by President Donald Trump — to integrate its Gemini AI models into classified military networks. The contract allows the government to use the technology for any lawful purpose, including mission planning and weapons targeting. Under the terms, Google LLC must assist the government in adjusting AI safety filters and cannot veto lawful operational decisions.

The deal triggered an internal uprising, with approximately 1,000 employees, including senior executives and researchers from Google DeepMind, signing an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai. Protesters warned that the lack of transparency in classified settings could lead to the development of lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. Senior Research Scientist Andreas Kirsch publicly condemned the deal, stating he felt "incredibly ashamed."

Google LLC leadership remained defiant, issuing a memo stating the company is proud to support national security. This shift follows a February 2025 revision of company AI principles that removed explicit bans on weapons applications. In a separate move, Google LLC withdrew from a $100 million Pentagon challenge to develop autonomous drone swarms following an internal ethics review.

This agreement mirrors deals signed by OpenAI and xAI. In contrast, the AI startup Anthropic was designated a supply-chain risk and barred from defense work after refusing to remove safety guardrails against autonomous weaponry and surveillance.