Meta Clears Llama AI for US Military Use

Meta has announced the deployment of its AI model, Llama, to support the US military and defense contractors in bolstering national security.

Llama's capabilities will enhance complex logistics, monitor terrorist financing, and fortify America's cybersecurity, according to Meta's President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, in a statement on 4 November.

Meta will collaborate with major tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Oracle, and Palantir, to deliver comprehensive AI solutions tailored for US government needs.

Meta Aims for Global AI Dominance

Mark Zuckerberg's firm underscored the critical role of the US and allied nations in supporting open-source technologies to sustain a "technological edge" over global rivals like China:

“Open source systems have been critical to helping the United States build the most technologically advanced military in the world and, in partnership with its allies.”

According to Clegg, open-source systems have been instrumental in advancing defense research, enhancing high-performance computing, detecting security vulnerabilities, and streamlining communication:

“[It] benefits the public sector by enabling discoveries and breakthroughs, driving efficiency and improving delivery of public services.”

The US private sector, he added, stands to gain significantly, as national security is "inextricably linked" with economic strength:

“Other nations – including China and other competitors of the United States – understand this as well, and are racing to develop their own open source models, investing heavily to leap ahead of the US.”

This announcement follows reports that Chinese research institutions tied to the People's Liberation Army allegedly used an early version of Meta's Llama for developing AI military tools for intelligence gathering.

In response, a Meta executive stated that the People's Liberation Army's usage of Llama was "unauthorised" and violates Meta's acceptable use policy.

Oracle to Build On Llama

As part of a new multi-company collaboration, Oracle will leverage Meta's Llama to streamline aircraft maintenance documentation, enabling technicians to diagnose issues more quickly and reduce repair times.

Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure will host Llama on secure cloud platforms to protect sensitive data.

Lockheed Martin has integrated Llama into its "AI Factory" to conduct data analysis, while Scale AI is "fine-tuning" Llama to support defense missions, including operational planning and identifying adversary weaknesses.

Other partners, including Accenture, Anduril, Booz Allen, Databricks, Deloitte, Leidos, and Snowflake, are also contributing to this initiative.

Clegg concluded:

“It's humbling to see such huge enthusiasm around the world for the vast possibilities of this freely available technology. By working closely with our partners, we hope to play a part in securing America's technological leadership and ensuring the world's next generation of digital infrastructure is rooted in democratic values and safeguards.”