New Delhi, April 29 -- Google's decision to expand Pentagon access is something that looks like a business deal. It shows how the AI industry is being pulled deeper into national security and how ethics are being tested against government demands.

Google has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defence that allows its AI models to be used across classified networks for "any lawful purpose". This includes access to Google's cloud systems and APIs, giving the Pentagon wide scope to apply AI in logistics, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure defence.

The company says it does not intend for its AI to be used in domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without human oversight. But critics point out that such language m...