Google is negotiating with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy Gemini AI models within classified environments.
The proposed deal expands an existing partnership that provides Gemini to the Pentagon’s unclassified GenAI.mil platform. Three million military and civilian personnel currently use that platform for administrative and operational automation.
This expansion reverses Google’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the Project Maven military contract following employee protests. Google updated its internal AI principles in early 2025 to allow for deeper military collaboration. The company now competes directly with Microsoft and OpenAI for high-value defense AI contracts.