
OpenAI, Google and Anthropic awarded US government contracts
That now paves the way for the tech companies to play central roles in the US government's anticipated widespread rollout of critical national use-cases of AI.
Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT are the large language models that have been officially signed, sealed and delivered by the US General Services Administration (GSA) and will be subsequently be added to its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracting platform for use across civilian federal agencies.
Bloomberg has reported that the LLMs come with contract terms in place, which will enable and empower federal agencies to adopt the models and use them at rapid pace.
The GSA have described the decision to approve Google, OpenAI and Anthropic as significant and serves as a clear indication of their efforts to responsibly adopt and scale transformative AI technologies.
'Making these solutions available through GSA's MAS will facilitate strong, widespread federal agency adoption and ensure easy access to AI tools that will improve their everyday workflows and processes.'
In addition to this, the GSA highlighted how the decision is aligned with US President Donald Trump's AI action plan, which has been engineered to position the United States as the global leader when it comes to AI despite the stiff opposition coming in the form of fellow economic heavyweight China.
The move by the GSA also supports Trump's war on government DEI programs, that the US President vowed to disband if re-elected to the White House, he has previously descried the DEI programs as immoral and illegal.
'As we procure these products, we're focused on models that prioritise truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias, aligning with the Trump administration's policy that federally procured AI systems must prioritise truth and accuracy over ideological agendas,' Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum stated.
He noted through GSA's marketplace, 'agencies will be able to explore a wide range of AI solutions, from simple research assistants powered by large language models to highly tailored, mission-specific applications'.
For Anthropic, Google and OpenAI is it a big win, as having their products on the GSA provides a trusted path into the federal marketplace.
The financial terms and length of contracts were not available.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
38 minutes ago
- Zawya
Wall St Week Ahead: Inflation data to test stocks as some investors brace for rally to pause
NEW YORK: A fresh look at inflation trends will test the U.S. stock market's rally in the coming week, with some investors saying equities are primed for a potential pullback after rocketing to records. The benchmark S&P 500 was last up more than 7% on the year and within about 1% of its all-time closing high set in late July, as stocks largely rebounded from declines following a weak employment report earlier this month. Strategists at firms including Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley have recently said the market could be poised for some level of pullback after a largely unabated climb over the past four months, which has pushed valuations to historically expensive levels as a seasonally treacherous period for stocks begins. The monthly U.S. consumer price index report, due on Tuesday, could cause volatility. Data showing higher-than-expected inflation could undermine the growing expectation for impending interest rate cuts. "I do think the market is set up for a bit of a pullback," said Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist at Morningstar Wealth. "There's a lot of concern bubbling underneath." The S&P 500 has soared well over 20% since its low for the year in April, as investor fears about a tariff-induced recession calmed after President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement earlier that month had set off extreme asset volatility. The index is trading at 22.4 times its earnings estimates for the next year, well above its long-term average P/E ratio of 15.8 after recently reaching its highest valuation in over four years, according to LSEG Datastream. Investors are also wary of risks posed by the calendar. Over the past 35 years, August and September have ranked as the worst-performing months for the S&P 500, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac. The index has declined an average of 0.6% in August and 0.8% in September -- the only months of negative average performance for the index during that time period. "The combination of a softer payroll number with concerns of tariff-related inflation could be the recipe for ... a correction, especially in the seasonally weak third quarter," Morgan Stanley equity strategist Michael Wilson said in a note this week. Still, Wilson said his 12-month outlook was bullish, adding "we're buyers of pullbacks." The CPI for July is expected to have climbed 2.8% on an annual basis, according to a Reuters poll of economists. Investors will be watching to see if Trump's tariffs on imports are translating into higher prices after the June CPI report suggested levies were impacting the prices of some goods. Market bets on Fed rate cuts rose following the recent weak jobs data as investors expect the central bank will ease monetary policy to help shore up the labor market. Fed funds futures indicate an over 90% chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting in September, with at least two cuts priced in for this year, LSEG data showed. That narrative could be at risk if CPI rises more than expected, making the Fed more hesitant to cut rates, investors said. "If the CPI suggests that the market got a little ahead of itself, that can create volatility," said Angelo Kourkafas, senior investment strategist at Edward Jones. "But if it's not worse than feared ... that can further reinforce that we are now in an inflection point for the Fed." The prospect of higher tariffs and the economic fallout from those levies already instituted by the Trump administration has been a persistent theme clouding markets, but stocks have managed to rise to records despite the uncertainty. Higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries took effect on Thursday, raising the average U.S. import duty to its highest in a century, while the president also this week announced plans for levies on semiconductor chips and pharmaceutical imports. China could face a potential tariff increase on Tuesday unless Trump approves an extension of a prior truce. The impact of higher tariffs on the economy could take a while to show up, and "the market has kind of ignored the potential negative impact of this friction to the economy," said Matt Rowe, senior portfolio manager at Man Group. "The market has gotten comfortable with tariffs being kind of a non-event, which I don't think is correct," Rowe said. (Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Sandra Maler)


Gulf Business
38 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
iPhone 17 buzz: Major redesign, camera upgrades, price hike
Image credit: AppleTrack/X account Apple is gearing up for its next big reveal with the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series, expected to launch in early September. Industry insiders and leaks suggest this could be one of the most significant iPhone updates in years, featuring notable design, display, and camera changes. Fans and critics alike are buzzing with speculation about what Apple might unveil — from slimmer models to powerful new camera features. Rumours also point to a possible price hike, the first in five years, sparking debate among prospective buyers. As Apple maintains its usual secrecy, every leak and insider tip gains extra weight. With the tech world watching closely, this launch promises to set new standards in smartphone innovation. Here's everything we know so far about the iPhone 17 series, ahead of the expected September unveiling. Read- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has claimed that September 9 or September 10 could be the unveiling dates, which would align with Apple's long-standing tradition of holding iPhone events in the second week of September, shortly after the Labour Day holiday in the United States, an Design: Slimmer model, horizontal camera layout rumoured Apple appears to be making some noticeable design changes this year. Leaks suggest that certain models, including the iPhone 17 Air and the Pro variants, could feature a horizontal rear camera arrangement, replacing the familiar vertical layout seen in recent generations. The Air model is expected to be significantly slimmer—about 2mm thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro—making it lighter and easier to handle, while still delivering top-tier performance. Display: 120Hz refresh for all models Rumours indicate that all models of the iPhone 17 will finally feature a 120Hz display, an upgrade from the current 60Hz refresh rate on non-Pro models. This could mark a major improvement in the overall display experience. When Apple debuted the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with 60Hz screens, there was criticism from users expecting more in 2024. This update could address those concerns — and possibly bring always-on display support to the baseline model for the first time. There's also been speculation about scratch-resistant and anti-reflective displays. A July report from MacRumors suggests these features will arrive on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but not on the baseline iPhone 17 or the Air, Pricing: First hike in years likely Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reiterated that the new iPhone announcement is expected on Sept. 9 or 10. Pricing remains a major unknown. However, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee has predicted a $50 price increase for the iPhone 17 Air, Pro, and Pro Max models due to rising component costs and tariffs. He did not mention any pricing changes for the baseline iPhone 17. If these predictions are accurate, the starting prices for the iPhone 17 lineup could be: iPhone 17: $829 iPhone 17 Air: $979 iPhone 17 Pro: $1,049 iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1,249 Despite inflation and supply chain challenges, Apple has not raised base iPhone prices in five years, according to CNET. New camera control feature leaked A potential leak involving the iPhone 17 Pro hints at a second camera control feature, possibly a capacitive touch scroll surface, based on its placement on a test unit seen in ad production. This new interface could allow users to adjust zoom and other camera settings more fluidly, without interfering with the main camera button. If true, this would address long-standing feedback about current swipe-based controls. While the leak's authenticity hasn't been confirmed, the feature lines up with previous reports and could be revealed during the usual September keynote. Possible iPhone 17 Pro Leak Hints at New Camera Control Feature A potential leak of the iPhone 17 Pro suggests the inclusion of a second Camera Control feature, possibly a capacitive touch scroll surface, based on an ad production and placement on the device. This new control… — Apple Club (@applesclubs) Camera upgrades: 8x zoom, Pro app, new color options The iPhone 17 Pro models are rumoured to feature significant camera improvements, including: 8x optical zoom A new Pro Camera app An additional camera control button Tipsters also suggest the phone may arrive in a copper-like color with a centered Apple logo, part of Apple's strategy to emphasize video creation features for vloggers and content creators. While unconfirmed, these rumours align with reports of a redesigned rear camera system and enhanced video capabilities for the 2025 iPhone lineup. iPhone 17 Pro brings 16 big upgrades! 🤯 🔹 A19 Pro Chip 🔹 48MP Telephoto + 8K Video 🔹 24MP Front Camera 🔹 12GB RAM | Wi-Fi 7 🔹 New Dynamic Island UI 🔹 25W Wireless Charging 🔹 Vapor Chamber Cooling Which feature are you most excited about? 🔋📸 — Apple Club (@applesclubs) Performance and battery: A19 chip, 12GB RAM, new cooling system The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to bring 16 major upgrades, including: Apple A19 Pro chip 48MP Telephoto + 8K video support 24MP front camera 12GB RAM Wi-Fi 7 New Dynamic Island UI 25W wireless charging Vapor chamber cooling system Other rumoured features include: 6.3″ OLED display 120Hz ProMotion Apple A19 chip 24MP selfie camera 50W MagSafe charging ✨ Major upgrades: iPhone 17 6.3″ OLED Display 🤩 120Hz ProMotion 💯 Apple A19 Chip 🤯 24MP Selfie Camera 📸 Wi-Fi 7 📡 50W MagSafe Charging ⚡ Would you upgrade? 📱🍏 — Apple Club (@applesclubs) The iPhone 17 Pro Max is also tipped to include the largest battery Apple has ever used, plus a bold new design and anti-reflective display. iPhone 17 Pro Max is coming next month with 7 major upgrades! 👀🔥 📱 A19 Pro chip 📸 48MP telephoto + 24MP front 💾 12GB RAM 🛡️ Anti-reflective display 🧊 Vapor chamber cooling 🔋 Largest iPhone battery ever ✨ Bold new design & colors Which feature are you most excited about? — Apple Club (@applesclubs) A milestone upgrade year? With only weeks to go before Apple's next big event, the iPhone 17 series is shaping up to be one of the most substantial hardware updates in years. Between the thinner design, display enhancements, massive camera revamp, and potential pricing changes, Apple seems poised to cater to both general users and professional content creators alike. All eyes now turn to early September, when Apple is expected to reveal the full picture.


Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Ripple to buy stablecoin platform Rail for $200mln
Ripple will buy stablecoin payments platform Rail for $200 million, the company said on Thursday, weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law that raised expectations cryptocurrency tokens are about to enter the mainstream. Ripple, a crypto company that is closely associated with the token XRP and issues its own stablecoin called RLUSD, has invested heavily in stablecoin infrastructure in recent months. The acquisition - which will close in the fourth quarter of this year pending regulatory approvals - will enable Ripple and Rail to "deliver the most comprehensive stablecoin payments solution available in the market," it said. It will also add virtual accounts and automated back-office processes to Ripple's existing payments capabilities, the company said in a release. "As regulations become more clear and the space has grown and matured, this opportunity for stablecoin payments is really ripe, and the acquisition of Rail just really solidifies our market leadership in stablecoin payments," said Monica Long, president of Ripple in an interview. Toronto-based Rail, backed by Galaxy Ventures and Accomplice, uses stablecoins to deploy cross-border payments. It says its transactions are cheaper and can clear in just hours, compared to longer settlement times for fiat payments. Rail says on its website that the company is responsible for 10% of all global stablecoin-based payment activity. Trump in July signed a bill into law to create a federal regulatory regime for stablecoins, which analysts said could allow digital assets to become an everyday way to make payments and move money. Stablecoins are designed to maintain a constant value, usually a 1:1 U.S. dollar peg, and their use has exploded, notably by crypto traders moving funds between tokens. Ripple said in April that it would also buy multi-asset prime broker Hidden Road in a $1.25 billion deal, one of its largest acquisitions yet, which it said would enhance RLUSD's utility. Ripple launched RLUSD, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, last year, as it sought to disrupt the market dominated by Tether and Circle's USDC. According to crypto data provider CoinGecko, RLUSD has a market capitalization of more than $611 million, compared to Tether's market capitalization of more than $164 billion. (Reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; editing by Barbara Lewis and Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan)