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The Pentagon has cracked open its most classified AI vaults to Elon Musk’s Grok.
The U.S. Defense Department has reached an agreement with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to use its Grok model inside classified military systems, according to Axios, citing a defense official.
The move comes as the Pentagon threatens to sever ties with Anthropic, whose Claude model is currently the only AI authorized for use in the military’s most sensitive classified environments.
Until now, Claude has supported intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations inside classified systems. Grok’s entry marks the first time another model has secured access to that level of defense infrastructure.
The agreement follows an escalating dispute between the Pentagon and Anthropic over usage restrictions built into Claude.
The Defense Department wants the model to be available for “all lawful purposes.” Anthropic has refused that demand. The company has drawn firm limits around two areas: mass surveillance of Americans and the development of fully autonomous weapons.
By contrast, xAI agreed to the Pentagon’s “all lawful use” standard.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to meet Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at the Pentagon on Tuesday. Sources told Axios the meeting could be tense. A defense official said Hegseth is expected to present an ultimatum.
The Pentagon has warned it may designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” if it refuses to lift its safeguards. Such a label could force Defense Department contractors to stop doing business with the company.
Defense officials have acknowledged that replacing Claude would be technically complex. Anthropic’s model is deeply integrated into classified systems and has been used in operations through partnerships, including work conducted with Palantir.
Grok joins Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT as models already available in the military’s unclassified systems.
Google and OpenAI have also been in discussions with the Pentagon about expanding their models into classified environments.
The Pentagon has accelerated outreach to OpenAI to revive negotiations. One source told Axios the sides were “not close to getting a deal” due to complex issues. Another source confirmed discussions have intensified.
The New York Times reported that Google was close to reaching a deal to allow classified use of Gemini, while OpenAI was not near an agreement. A defense official disputed that characterization and said talks with both companies remain ongoing.
Administration officials insist that any company entering classified systems must accept the “all lawful purposes” requirement.
It remains unclear whether Grok can fully replace Claude or how long a transition would take. The dispute places major AI firms at the center of a broader debate over control, safeguards, and military use of advanced artificial intelligence.
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