Microsoft is making a special AI Copilot for the US military
Microsoft is developing a special version of its Copilot AI assistant tailored for the US military, with availability expected by summer 2025. In a blog post written for its government customers, Microsoft confirmed that Copilot for the Department of Defense (DoD) is currently under development. 'For DoD environments, Microsoft 365 Copilot is expected to become available no earlier than summer 2025,' the company wrote. 'Work is ongoing to ensure the offering meets the necessary security and compliance standards.'advertisementCopilot is Microsoft's primary generative AI platform and is already integrated into tools like Word, PowerPoint and Excel for general users. A military-grade version, however, requires stronger safeguards and has to meet stringent compliance rules set for high-security environments.Microsoft also stated in a March update that it is working to bring Copilot to GCC High, its cloud platform for US government clients. 'We are planning on a general availability (GA) release this calendar year,' the company said.
Microsoft's Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff reportedly also told employees recently that a customer with more than one million Microsoft 365 licenses is adopting Copilot. While the customer was not named, the Defence Department, with over 2.8 million military and civilian employees, fits the bill.The development of a defence-specific Copilot underscores how AI is becoming a vital part of US government infrastructure. On July 4, the General Services Administration (GSA) is expected to launch AI.gov – a platform designed to help US government agencies access powerful AI tools from companies like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and eventually Amazon Web Services and Meta.advertisementAccording to a report by 404 Media, the AI.gov project includes a chatbot assistant, a model-agnostic API, and a console to monitor AI usage across federal departments. 'We want to start implementing more AI at the agency level and be an example for how other agencies can start leveraging AI,' Thomas Shedd, head of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services, reportedly told his team.One of the more innovative features is the use of analytics to track how government teams are using AI. This data could help highlight success stories and identify areas where more training is needed.The growing focus on AI in defence isn't limited to Microsoft and the GSA. AI company Anthropic recently announced its own line of custom AI models for the US government, branded 'Claude Gov'. These tools are already in use by top national security agencies and are designed to assist with tasks like intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and threat detection. 'Access to these models is limited to those who operate in classified environments,' Anthropic stated. The Claude Gov models are built with enhanced capabilities, including the ability to handle sensitive data and understand defence-specific language and documentation.Meanwhile, Meta is also deepening its ties with the defence sector. The Mark Zuckerberg-owned company is partnering with Anduril, a defence startup founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, to develop virtual and augmented reality headsets for US service members. 'We're proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American service members that protect our interests at home and abroad,' said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.Must Watch
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