Pentagon Approves xAI’s Grok for Classified Use, Ending Claude’s Exclusivity

FomoAnxiety · 2026-02-24T18:01:26+00:00

Elon Musk's xAI has secured a deal with the U.S. Department of Defense to use its Grok AI system in classified military programs, expanding options beyond Anthropic's Claude, amidst disagreements over safety and ethical guidelines.

FomoAnxiety

2026-02-24 18:01:26

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Elon Musk’s xAI has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that will allow its Grok artificial intelligence system to be used in classified military programs. Until now, Anthropic’s Claude had been the only AI approved for the Pentagon’s most sensitive work. However, according to Axios, disagreements over safety restrictions and usage limits caused the Defense Department to expand its options.

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As a result, Grok can now be deployed in systems involved in intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield planning. A key issue behind the change appears to be how freely the AI can be used. The Pentagon requires that approved systems be available for “all lawful purposes,” and xAI reportedly agreed to that condition. Anthropic, on the other hand, has resisted loosening certain safeguards, particularly those related to mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, due to ethical concerns.

This dispute has raised tensions, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to meet with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the matter. Notably, officials could even label Anthropic a supply-chain risk if it refuses to modify its restrictions. Even so, replacing Claude entirely would not be simple, since integrating new AI systems into classified environments can be technically complex. In the meantime, the Pentagon is already using multiple AI tools across different levels of security, and it continues to negotiate with several AI providers.

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