Leading AI developers like OpenAI and Anthropic are navigating a complex relationship with the U. S. military, aiming to enhance Pentagon operations while avoiding the use of AI in lethal applications. Currently, AI tools are not designed for combat but are aiding the Department of Defense in identifying, tracking, and assessing threats, providing a notable advantage, according to Dr. Radha Plumb, the Pentagon's Chief Digital and AI Officer. Plumb explained that AI accelerates the military’s "kill chain, " the process of detecting and neutralizing threats, particularly during planning and strategizing phases. The collaboration between the Pentagon and AI companies is relatively recent; in 2024, firms like OpenAI and Anthropic revised their usage policies to permit their technologies in defense contexts, clearly stipulating that they would not support any harmful applications. This shift has led to partnerships between AI firms and defense contractors.

For example, Meta aligned with Lockheed Martin and Anthropic partnered with Palantir, while OpenAI made similar agreements with Anduril. Generative AI's effectiveness in various military scenarios could influence tech companies to relax their policies regarding military applications. While there's a growing debate about the ethics of AI in military decision-making—particularly concerning autonomous weapons—Dr. Plumb asserted that the Pentagon maintains human oversight in all force employment decisions. The discussion around "autonomous" systems remains contentious, with Plumb emphasizing that human-machine collaboration is essential rather than complete autonomy. Although military partnerships can spark resistance within tech sectors, there has been a relatively subdued response from the AI community. Some researchers believe that collaboration with the military is necessary to ensure responsible use of AI technologies in defense settings.