Pentagon Boosts AI Use with Contract for Scale AI

(MENAFN) The US Department of Defense has awarded a $500 million contract to Scale AI, a company backed by Meta, to process large volumes of data and support military decision-making as part of a broader push to expand artificial intelligence use within the armed forces, according to Bloomberg reports released Wednesday.

The agreement marks a significant increase from a previous $100 million contract the company secured from the Pentagon in September 2025.

Dan Tadross, who leads Scale AI’s public sector operations, said the Defense Department had been “pushing the limits” of the earlier arrangement.

“I think this contract is just generally proof that the (Defense) Department is eager to adopt this technology,” Tadross said.

Based in San Francisco, Scale AI is also involved in the Pentagon’s Thunderforge initiative under the Defense Innovation Unit, which focuses on integrating AI into military planning and operations. The company is additionally linked to President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” homeland defense system, according to reports.

Meta acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI last year.

The contract was signed with the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office and is among the department’s largest AI-related deals. It aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s January strategy memo calling for expanded AI adoption and reduced bureaucratic barriers to implementation.

Earlier in May, the Pentagon also reached agreements with Nvidia, Microsoft, Reflection AI, and Amazon Web Services to increase the use of advanced AI systems across classified military networks.

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