Military Meets AI Boss Over Limits

The U. S. Defense Department has called in the chief of a leading AI firm to Washington for talks about how its tools can be used on secret military systems. The meeting comes after a new memo from the Secretary of Defense urged AI companies to lift restrictions on their software. This push has led to a re‑examination of the existing $200 million pilot deal that the company signed with the Pentagon last year. The Department is already working with other tech groups, including Elon Musk’s xAI and a big search‑engine giant that offers an AI model called Gemini. Officials say these partnerships could help them persuade the first company to relax its rules. The other firms have not yet replied to requests for comment.A Pentagon official confirmed that the AI chief will meet with the Defense Secretary. The government plans to ask for similar safety boundaries, or “guardrails, ” that it has negotiated with the other companies. These measures would let the military use the models as needed, provided they stay within legal limits, while still allowing developers to embed safety features into the systems. The AI company was the first to be cleared for work on classified networks. It has shown a willingness to ease some restrictions but insists that safeguards be added to prevent the technology from being used for widespread surveillance of citizens or in autonomous weapons that operate without human oversight. The company’s stance reflects broader concerns about the ethical use of artificial intelligence in defense. The discussion highlights a growing tension between national security interests and the responsible deployment of AI. How the government balances these priorities will shape the future use of advanced technology in military operations.