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Defense Department reports AI tool use rose to 1.5 million personnel since December 2025
The U.S. Department of Defense said 1.5 million personnel now use commercial AI tools, up from 80,000 in December 2025. Adoption remains below 50 percent of the agency's 3.5 million employees.
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The U.S. Department of Defense said the number of personnel using commercial AI tools grew from 80,000 in December 2025 to 1.5 million this month. The agency has about 3.5 million employees, so roughly 43 percent are using the technology.
Pentagon officials describe efficiency gains Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael said at a Hudson Institute event that AI use has expanded rapidly. Officials stated the tools have reduced time spent writing mandatory congressional reports.
The number of required Department of Defense reports to Congress rose from 500 in 2000 to about 1,400 in 2020, according to U.S. Government Accountability Office data. Officials said AI now helps generate some of those reports.
Earlier policy changes and partnerships AI deployment increased after the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, which replaced the U.S. Digital Service. In 2025, Google and other companies signed agreements with the U.S. General Services Administration to offer tools to federal agencies at discounted rates.
In May, the Pentagon announced partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle for operational use of their AI tools.
Adoption and oversight challenges A GAO report from March noted concerns that AI could generate false information or allow data access beyond intended purposes. The watchdog called on the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on privacy risks. The agency did not respond to a request for comment on the current adoption figures.
