White House approves US$9 billion for spy agencies to catch up on AI
The White House has approved a US$9 billion funding request for spy agencies to enhance their capabilities in artificial intelligence. This funding aims to address a chip shortage that has hindered intelligence operations and reflects the growing importance of AI in national security. Congress still needs to approve the funding, while the administration is reallocating US$800 million for quicker access to computing resources.
- ▪The funding is intended to acquire advanced computer chips necessary for AI applications in espionage.
- ▪Concerns have arisen about a chip shortage affecting the testing and deployment of AI tools by intelligence agencies.
- ▪The NSA is authorized to continue using an AI model from Anthropic despite supply chain concerns, with a classified contract being finalized.
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White House approves US$9 billion for spy agencies to catch up on AISign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxA view of the Nvidia GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip and board during the Nvidia GTC global AI conference in San Jose, California on March 17, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERSDustin Volz and Julian E. BarnesPublished May 23, 2026, 09:45 AMUpdated May 23, 2026, 09:45 AMWASHINGTON – The White House has approved a secret US$9 billion request to acquire the cutting-edge computer chips that America’s spy agencies need to tap into the full capabilities of the latest artificial intelligence models, according to current and former US officials.New AI models use enormous amounts of computer power, more than many technology experts anticipated even a year or two ago.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.