The US government has taken a significant step toward mainstreaming artificial intelligence in federal operations by adding OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to its approved list of AI vendors.
The move, announced by the General Services Administration (GSA), opens the gates for widespread adoption of advanced AI technologies like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude across civilian agencies, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach to automation and digital governance.
By onboarding the three companies into its Multiple Award Schedule — a procurement platform that offers pre-negotiated contracts — the GSA is fast-tracking federal access to commercial AI tools. The agency said the models were vetted for both performance and security, though contract terms remain undisclosed. In similar past deals, the GSA has secured deep discounts from software giants like Adobe, Salesforce, and Google.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian emphasized the agency’s broader objective: equipping all federal employees with powerful digital tools.
“We’re not in the position of picking winners or losers here,” he said. “There’s going to be different tools for different use cases.”
Still, OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic’s early inclusion highlights how far they’ve advanced in regulatory compliance compared to other firms still navigating federal procurement hurdles. GSA officials confirmed other AI vendors would be considered in due course.
A Presidential Mandate: No “Woke AI”
The rollout comes just days after President Donald Trump signed three executive orders reshaping the government’s relationship with AI. Central to the directives is a mandate that all federal agencies procure language models “free from ideological bias,” an apparent rebuke of what Trump has repeatedly dubbed “woke AI.”
Implementation of this ideological filter will vary agency by agency, GSA officials noted, but the policy is already inflecting federal discourse around algorithmic fairness and model transparency.
“This is a race, right?” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. “And as the president said, we’re going to win this race.”
The urgency reflects growing geopolitical stakes in AI supremacy. The administration hopes to reduce the gap between federal capabilities and the private sector, or even rival nations like China, by accelerating adoption across civilian government.
Beyond Defense: Civilian Agencies Now in Focus
While national security agencies such as the Pentagon have already awarded AI contracts to OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, Tuesday’s announcement significantly broadens AI’s civilian footprint. Agencies such as the Treasury Department and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have expressed interest in deploying these tools for practical, high-volume tasks.
Potential use cases include fraud detection at the IRS, automation of patent review at the US Patent and Trademark Office, grant application screening at the Department of Education, and even editing press releases.
Scott Kupor, Director of the OPM, said he envisions AI being used to build customer service bots and to digest thousands of public comments on federal rulemaking — a task that has long slowed regulatory processes. But he also acknowledged a talent gap inside government.
“We’re probably missing people who are super conversant with very modern, AI-related stuff,” Kupor admitted. “Clearly, we can’t just throw things against the wall and see what sticks.”
A Broader Commercial Shift
This federal embrace comes at a pivotal moment for AI vendors. Many of these companies — including OpenAI and Anthropic — are navigating fierce competition not only for enterprise clients but also for top engineering talent. As revealed in recent interviews, OpenAI has even become protective of its most prized debuggers, concealing their identities out of concern over poaching, particularly by Meta and other Silicon Valley rivals.
In that sense, GSA’s announcement is more than just a bureaucratic update. It signals Washington’s deeper engagement in the AI arms race — one where the players are not just governments but tech titans with global reach and ideological agendas. And with Trump’s executive orders now setting the tone, the federal marketplace for AI isn’t just growing — it’s being reshaped.