Microsoft, Palantir Partner to Bring Secure AI to Defense Agencies

Microsoft is working with Palantir to provide cloud-based AI and analytics services to the U.S. defense and intelligence community.

The pair will offer a suite of technologies that combines foundation models through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service with Palantir’s AI-powered security analytics tools.

The jointly developed suite is designed to let defense firms run workloads in the cloud while ensuring data remains classified and secure.

“Bringing Palantir and Microsoft capabilities to our national security apparatus is a step change in how we can support the defense and intelligence communities,” said Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer. 

Microsoft and Palantir have had a strategic partnership for some time, applying AI and data analytics to industries including energy and renewables, health care, life sciences and retail.

Now, they’re looking to cover defense and intelligence, a sector with which both hold extensive experience. 

Palantir previously supported data and AI efforts for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense, securing contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has supplied cloud and cybersecurity solutions to the Department of Defense and even tried to develop augmented reality headsets for soldiers, with mixed results.

Related:Microsoft Taps Lumen to Boost AI Infrastructure Capacity

The pair are now working together. Palantir’s suite of products, including its Foundry and Gotham software platforms, will be made available to defense agencies through government and top-secret cloud services.

Palantir will also become an early adopter of Azure’s OpenAI Service in Microsoft’s Secret and Top Secret environments, providing access to powerful language modes like GPT-4o to work in tandem with its analytics software services.

Defense operators and agencies can use the jointly developed solution to obtain insights on everything from logistics, contracting and action planning while all data is kept secure.

“This expanded partnership between Microsoft and Palantir will help accelerate the safe, secure and responsible deployment of advanced AI capabilities for the U.S. government,” said Deb Cupp, president of Microsoft Americas. “Palantir, a leader in delivering actionable insights to government, will now leverage the power of Microsoft’s government and classified clouds and robust Azure OpenAI models to further develop AI innovations for national security missions.

This story first appeared in IoT World Today's sister publication AI Business.