Meta to let US national security agencies and defense contractors use Llama AI

Company typically prohibits its use for military, warfare, nuclear industries or applications, [and] espionage'

Meta announced Monday that it would allow US national security agencies and defense contractors to use its open-source artificial intelligence model, Llama. The announcement came days after Reuters reported an older version of Llama had been used by researchers to develop defense applications for the military wing of the Chinese government.

Meta's policies typically prohibit the use of its open-source large language model for military, warfare, nuclear industries or applications, [and] espionage". The company is making an exception for US agencies and contractors as well as similar national security agencies in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to Bloomberg.