Google, OpenAI, Anthropic get blanket deal to saturate US government with their AI
(2025/08/06)
- Reference: 1754498049
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/08/06/google_openai_anthropic_us_gov_ai_deal/
- Source link:
It's just become a lot easier for US government agencies to procure AI products from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, as the firms and the feds have signed a government-wide agreement to streamline purchasing.
The General Services Administration (GSA) [1]announced that it had added Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT to its Multiple Award Schedules ( [2]MAS ) in a press release on Tuesday.
MAS contracts allow companies to sell their products to government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels over a long period without having to negotiate terms with the agencies, streamlining the acquisition process. GSA leadership described the move as one way in which the procurement agency is applying the goals outlined in President Trump's recently-unveiled [3]AI action plan .
[4]
"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," Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in GSA's statement.
[5]
[6]
The GSA also today [7]announced a partnership with OpenAI as part of the MAS deal that will see ChatGPT's Enterprise tools pushed out to every single federal agency that wants it for a nominal $1-for-one-year fee schedule. Training from OpenAI will also be available to federal employees. GSA did not make similar announcements with regards to Google and Anthropic. None of the companies involved in the MASes responded to questions for this story.
Although GSA didn't specify what underlying model versions would be available via the MASes, a spokesperson did get more specific on what sort of use cases the GSA is aiming to address.
[8]
"These AI tools can support a wide range of applications, from back‑office automation to critical mission functions such as real‑time translation, cybersecurity support, and large‑scale data analysis," a GSA spokesperson told The Register in an email. The spokesperson added that early AI adoption at the GSA itself had been a massive success, saving 365,000 staff hours so far in 2025.
As we procure these products, we're focused on models that prioritize truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias
"While the full impact across government is difficult to quantify, scaling these solutions as models mature and the workforce becomes more proficient will unlock significant, multiplier‑level gains," the GSA told us. "The potential for efficiency and innovation is substantial."
Looking ahead, GSA is keeping its options open and considering additional partners as well.
"As we procure these products, we're focused on models that prioritize truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias," Gruenbaum said. The FAS commissioner added that such models properly align "with the Trump Administration's policy that federally procured AI systems must prioritize truth and accuracy over ideological agendas."
GSA didn't indicate which AI firms, outside of OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, it may be considering adding to the MAS roster, but we can find some clues in the Trump administration's [9]whole-of-government AI plans , which leaked back in June.
[10]
According to an unintentionally published GitHub page that has now been updated to remove the data, GSA has been working with vendors to integrate FedRAMP-certified AI products into government branches. That includes Meta's Llama, but curiously also lists products from AI firm Cohere as well, despite it not being FedRAMP-certified for safe cloud computing yet.
[11]
A now-removed page from GitHub lists models – click to enlarge
The GSA was able to confirm that the deal with the AI companies was part of a [12]cloud IT services contract , and while not saying explicitly that all future offerings would be FedRAMP certified, it did note that it wasn't just approving new models willy-nilly.
"The government is taking a cautious, security‑first approach to AI," the GSA told us. "This ensures sensitive information remains protected while enabling agencies to benefit from AI‑driven efficiencies."
[13]Larry Ellison wants to put all America's data, including DNA, in one big Oracle system for AI to study
[14]Defense Department signs OpenAI for $200 million 'frontier AI' pilot project
[15]Fed chair Powell says AI is coming for your job
[16]Tinfoil hat wearers can thank AI for declassification of JFK docs
The Trump administration has made no secret of its desire to squeeze AI into every nook and cranny of the federal government in a bid to cut spending and streamline operations. Since Trump took office earlier this year, we've seen AI applied in a variety of places, many thanks to the efforts of [17]Elon Musk and DOGE , but also [18]at the Pentagon and [19]other agencies as well.
Government agencies have reported a skyrocketing number of identified AI use cases in the past year, but [20]deployments have stalled due to things like funding concerns and excessive regulation. These new MAS additions may motivate purchasing, but other problems government auditors have identified with AI deployments may not be so easy to eliminate.
According to the Government Accountability Office, many agencies are still concerned about the reliability of AI, biased or incorrect output, and a lack of model transparency. Making them easier to purchase won't get rid of those rather major issues. ®
Get our [21]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-propels-government-into-ai-revolution-with-addition-of-leading-solutions-08052025
[2] https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/purchasing-programs/multiple-award-schedule
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/24/ai_trump_plan_/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-announces-new-partnership-with-openai-delivering-deep-discount-to-chatgpt-08062025
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/10/trump_admin_leak_government_ai_plans/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/06/10/ai-gov-ai-models.jpg
[12] https://www.gsa.gov/technology/it-contract-vehicles-and-purchasing-programs/multiple-award-schedule-it/cloud-and-cloud-related-it-services
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/larry_ellison_wants_all_data/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/17/dod_openai_contract/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/27/powell_ai_coming_for_your_job/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/10/tulsi_gabbard_aws_summit/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/18/house_democrats_doge/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/14/pentagon_ai/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/31/trump_medical_records_share/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/29/us_government_identified_ai_use/
[21] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The General Services Administration (GSA) [1]announced that it had added Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT to its Multiple Award Schedules ( [2]MAS ) in a press release on Tuesday.
MAS contracts allow companies to sell their products to government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels over a long period without having to negotiate terms with the agencies, streamlining the acquisition process. GSA leadership described the move as one way in which the procurement agency is applying the goals outlined in President Trump's recently-unveiled [3]AI action plan .
[4]
"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," Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in GSA's statement.
[5]
[6]
The GSA also today [7]announced a partnership with OpenAI as part of the MAS deal that will see ChatGPT's Enterprise tools pushed out to every single federal agency that wants it for a nominal $1-for-one-year fee schedule. Training from OpenAI will also be available to federal employees. GSA did not make similar announcements with regards to Google and Anthropic. None of the companies involved in the MASes responded to questions for this story.
Although GSA didn't specify what underlying model versions would be available via the MASes, a spokesperson did get more specific on what sort of use cases the GSA is aiming to address.
[8]
"These AI tools can support a wide range of applications, from back‑office automation to critical mission functions such as real‑time translation, cybersecurity support, and large‑scale data analysis," a GSA spokesperson told The Register in an email. The spokesperson added that early AI adoption at the GSA itself had been a massive success, saving 365,000 staff hours so far in 2025.
As we procure these products, we're focused on models that prioritize truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias
"While the full impact across government is difficult to quantify, scaling these solutions as models mature and the workforce becomes more proficient will unlock significant, multiplier‑level gains," the GSA told us. "The potential for efficiency and innovation is substantial."
Looking ahead, GSA is keeping its options open and considering additional partners as well.
"As we procure these products, we're focused on models that prioritize truthfulness, accuracy, transparency, and freedom from ideological bias," Gruenbaum said. The FAS commissioner added that such models properly align "with the Trump Administration's policy that federally procured AI systems must prioritize truth and accuracy over ideological agendas."
GSA didn't indicate which AI firms, outside of OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, it may be considering adding to the MAS roster, but we can find some clues in the Trump administration's [9]whole-of-government AI plans , which leaked back in June.
[10]
According to an unintentionally published GitHub page that has now been updated to remove the data, GSA has been working with vendors to integrate FedRAMP-certified AI products into government branches. That includes Meta's Llama, but curiously also lists products from AI firm Cohere as well, despite it not being FedRAMP-certified for safe cloud computing yet.
[11]
A now-removed page from GitHub lists models – click to enlarge
The GSA was able to confirm that the deal with the AI companies was part of a [12]cloud IT services contract , and while not saying explicitly that all future offerings would be FedRAMP certified, it did note that it wasn't just approving new models willy-nilly.
"The government is taking a cautious, security‑first approach to AI," the GSA told us. "This ensures sensitive information remains protected while enabling agencies to benefit from AI‑driven efficiencies."
[13]Larry Ellison wants to put all America's data, including DNA, in one big Oracle system for AI to study
[14]Defense Department signs OpenAI for $200 million 'frontier AI' pilot project
[15]Fed chair Powell says AI is coming for your job
[16]Tinfoil hat wearers can thank AI for declassification of JFK docs
The Trump administration has made no secret of its desire to squeeze AI into every nook and cranny of the federal government in a bid to cut spending and streamline operations. Since Trump took office earlier this year, we've seen AI applied in a variety of places, many thanks to the efforts of [17]Elon Musk and DOGE , but also [18]at the Pentagon and [19]other agencies as well.
Government agencies have reported a skyrocketing number of identified AI use cases in the past year, but [20]deployments have stalled due to things like funding concerns and excessive regulation. These new MAS additions may motivate purchasing, but other problems government auditors have identified with AI deployments may not be so easy to eliminate.
According to the Government Accountability Office, many agencies are still concerned about the reliability of AI, biased or incorrect output, and a lack of model transparency. Making them easier to purchase won't get rid of those rather major issues. ®
Get our [21]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-propels-government-into-ai-revolution-with-addition-of-leading-solutions-08052025
[2] https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/purchasing-programs/multiple-award-schedule
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/24/ai_trump_plan_/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-announces-new-partnership-with-openai-delivering-deep-discount-to-chatgpt-08062025
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/10/trump_admin_leak_government_ai_plans/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aJPQgtEybkErEIMKXX4kcQAAAQY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/06/10/ai-gov-ai-models.jpg
[12] https://www.gsa.gov/technology/it-contract-vehicles-and-purchasing-programs/multiple-award-schedule-it/cloud-and-cloud-related-it-services
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/larry_ellison_wants_all_data/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/17/dod_openai_contract/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/27/powell_ai_coming_for_your_job/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/10/tulsi_gabbard_aws_summit/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/18/house_democrats_doge/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/14/pentagon_ai/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/31/trump_medical_records_share/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/29/us_government_identified_ai_use/
[21] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Maybe this is a good thing?
After all, if anybody on this planet needed to supplement their own meagre intellect with some artificial intelligence, it has to be Epstein's Orange Friend.