The U.S. General Services Agency (GSA), the federal agency responsible for managing US government policies related to procurement, property and technology, has partnered with Meta to make its open source, Lama Artificial Intelligence (AI) model more easily available under the OneGov initiative.
The move aims to cut off deficits, reduce duplication and accelerate the adoption of AI tools across government sectors.
US Federal Acquisition Services Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in line with President Donald Trump's AI Action Plan, GSA is working to integrate AI into government operations.
He argued that the OneGov initiative would make Llama and other open source AI models more accessible to federal agencies, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency across the department.
When asked about the deep discounts offered by tech companies to ensure approval, Gruenbaum told Reuters:
Elsewhere, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg added that making Llama available to US government agencies can support more efficient public services and allow AI tools to be experimented with real-world applications.
Expanding llama access to allies
Meta is not only working with US federal agencies, but also expanding llama access to major US allies. In consultation with the US government, META made the model available for defence and national security purposes to its fifth-eyed partners in the US: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
The company is currently expanding access to France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) and European Union (EU) agencies.
The government can run the model locally and allow AI to be used without sending sensitive information through third-party providers. Meta said this makes Llama suitable for classification or mission-specific tasks. US defense agencies have already piloted the project using Llama, including a combined U.S. Army weapons support command to speed up device repairs using AI and virtual reality.
Meta has worked with several private companies, including Lockheed Martin, IBM, Microsoft, Palantia, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud to implement llama-based solutions for government and defense projects.
Meta highlights the benefits of open source AI, but expanding into the defense and intelligence sector raises wider questions. The open source model is accessible to everyone, making it flexible and cost-effective, but if it is misused it can also be difficult to control. Strong surveillance and safeguards are needed to broadly access AI in sensitive areas such as national security.
The US government has already highlighted the need for responsible use of AI in defense through its political declaration on the responsible military use of artificial intelligence and autonomy. Meta supports this principle and states that it must ensure that AI is deployed “ethically, responsible, and in accordance with relevant international law.”
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Geopolitics of AI: Llama vs. Deepseek
Just as China's rival Deepseek faces a ban over security and privacy concerns, Meta's llama has gained traction in the US and its allies.
The US Department of Commerce has banned Deepseek from government equipment by flagging US Congress members and the country's navy as national security risks. At least 14 US states, including Texas, New York, Virginia and Georgia, have also issued statewide bans due to fear of surveillance.
Globally, Italy blocked deep shakes for failing to disclose data practices, Taiwan in South Korea banned it in government departments and ministries, and Australia ordered removal from all official government equipment.
This division highlights the widening gap in AI. While the US and its allies are increasingly adopting the Western model for governance, China's system faces mistrust.
Why is it important?
The US GSA recently approved AI tools from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and Openai. All of these agreed to sell paid products to federal agencies at reduced prices after meeting security requirements.
Importantly, the GSA-META partnership highlights how AI promises a shift from experimental tools to core government operations, faster decision-making, reduced bureaucracy, and improved public services.
Additionally, expanding llama access to US allies will strengthen geopolitical ties and highlight the strategic importance of AI in defense and national security. But at the same time, the open source model raises concerns about surveillance, security and ethical deployment, making responsible governance important.
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