WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded major AI contracts to leading American firms, including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Elon Musk's xAI, as part of an effort to deepen its use of advanced artificial intelligence tools across defense operations.

The contracts, each with a ceiling of US$200 million, aim to develop agentic AI workflows to address critical national security challenges, according to the Department's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.

"Establishing these partnerships will broaden DoD use of and experience in frontier AI capabilities and increase the ability of these companies to understand and address critical national security needs," the office said.

OpenAI was previously named as one of the first recipients in June. At the time, the Pentagon said the maker of ChatGPT would "develop prototype frontier AI capabilities" that could support both warfighting and enterprise domains.

These efforts align with a broader government strategy to foster a competitive and secure U.S. AI ecosystem. In April, the White House's Office of Management and Budget released new guidance directing federal agencies to ensure that the public benefits from a vibrant domestic AI market.

The contracts mark a significant expansion in federal engagement with cutting-edge AI firms, especially as geopolitical tensions and evolving battlefield technologies increase the demand for real-time, autonomous decision-making tools.