xAI's Grok approved for classified US military systems, Axios reports

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has signed an agreement allowing its Grok model to be used in classified US military systems, Axios reported Monday, citing a defense official. The deal grants Grok access to systems handling some of the military's most sensitive intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations—an environment previously exclusive to Anthropic's Claude model.

Safeguards Controversy

The Pentagon has been locked in dispute with Anthropic over safeguards embedded in its Claude model. Anthropic declined a department request to make Claude available for "all lawful purposes," specifically resisting its use for mass surveillance of Americans and the development of fully autonomous weapons. By contrast, xAI agreed to the "all lawful use" standard sought by the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to meet Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at the Pentagon Tuesday in what sources described as potentially tense, with the department considering labeling the company a "supply chain risk" if it refuses to remove safeguards.

Technical and Competitive Landscape

It remains unclear whether Grok can fully replace Claude in classified systems or how long transition would take. Claude has been integrated through partnerships including work with Palantir. Grok, along with Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, is already available in unclassified military systems. Google and OpenAI are in discussions about expanding into classified environments, with Google reportedly close to an agreement. A defense official said talks with both companies continue, expecting eventual agreements if they accept the "all lawful purposes" requirement.