Jeff Bezos Confirms Amazon's Commitment to Supporting the Pentagon
Despite internal and industry pressure, Jeff Bezos asserts Amazon will continue pursuing military contracts to aid national defense.
Jeff Bezos has reaffirmed that Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) will persist in competing for military contracts, even as some employees and fellow U.S. tech companies urge a withdrawal from Pentagon partnerships.
During Wired’s 25th anniversary event in San Francisco, Amazon’s founder and CEO emphasized the importance of safeguarding the nation against external threats, while critiquing companies that choose to disengage from defense collaborations.
“If major tech firms turn away from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), it could jeopardize our country,” Bezos stated. “Refusing these contracts doesn’t resonate with me,” he added, highlighting the responsibility of leadership to make tough, sometimes unpopular decisions.
Bezos, whose aerospace venture Blue Origin recently secured three Pentagon contracts valued around $2 billion for satellite rocket launches, argued that tech companies shouldn’t sever ties with the defense sector due to political disagreements. “While many wrestle with current political climates, this nation deserves protection,” he remarked.
Amazon has encountered criticism from some employees over government projects, including facial recognition technology that raises privacy and ethical concerns.
Similar pressures have prompted several leading tech companies to withdraw from government contract bids. Notably, Alphabet Inc.’s Google recently exited a competitive cloud computing contract with the Pentagon, citing misalignment with company values.
Google’s withdrawal, following its earlier decision not to renew a Pentagon AI contract, opened the door for competitors like Amazon and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) to vie for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract, aimed at upgrading military computing capabilities.
Microsoft employees have voiced opposition to their company’s pursuit of the $10 billion contract. In an open letter published on Medium, staff expressed their expectation that their work would avoid causing harm or suffering.
The letter also accused Microsoft leadership of breaking past commitments. Earlier this year, Microsoft outlined six AI principles—fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability—which employees claim the JEDI project undermines in favor of short-term financial gain.
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