# Why Big Tech’s push into military AI matters

- Link: https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/06/big-techs-push-into-military-ai-is-troubling/
- Published: 2025-06-25T18:15:38-04:00

## Silicon Valley firms are beefing up their national security teams, but scrutiny is sorely needed

By [Jonathan Guyer](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/about/team/jonathan-guyer/),
Program Director

_This article appeared in [The Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/stream/5659b7a1-9aef-4dbc-9569-70ac49b1e4d2)
on June 20, 2025_

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When OpenAI and Mattel announced a partnership earlier this month, there was an 
implicit recognition of the risks. The first toys powered with artificial intelligence
would not be for children under 13.

Another partnership last week came with seemingly fewer caveats. OpenAI separately
revealed that it had won its [first Pentagon contract](https://openai.com/global-affairs/introducing-openai-for-government/).
It would pilot a $200mn program to “develop prototype frontier AI capabilities to
address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise
domains,” according to the [US Department of Defense](https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4218062/).

That a major tech company could launch military work with so little public scrutiny
epitomizes a shift. The national security application of everyday apps has in effect
become a given. Armed with narratives about how they’ve supercharged Israel and 
Ukraine in their wars, some tech companies have framed this as the new patriotism,
without having a conversation about whether it should be happening in the first 
place, let alone how to ensure that ethics and safety are prioritized.

…

_Read more of Jonathan’s article in_ [The Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/stream/5659b7a1-9aef-4dbc-9569-70ac49b1e4d2)

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**Written by [Jonathan Guyer](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/about/team/jonathan-guyer/)**

Jonathan is the Program Director of the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia 
Group’s Independent America program.

 * [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonguyer/)
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