The US General Services Administration (GSA) has approved Meta's Llama artificial intelligence system for use across federal agencies. This decision allows government agencies to securely deploy the free AI tool for tasks such as contract analysis and IT support. The approval is part of a broader push by the government to integrate commercial AI tools into its operations and accelerate the adoption of new technology.
With Llama's addition to the GSA's approved list, federal agencies can now experiment with the large language model to process data, including text, video, images, and audio. The open-source nature of Llama will help agencies retain full control over data processing and storage and build, deploy, and scale AI applications at a lower cost.
The GSA has also approved AI tools from other tech giants, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI, which have agreed to offer steeply discounted enterprise products while meeting federal safeguards. According to Josh Gruenbaum, the GSA's procurement lead, the discounts are not about "currying favor" with President Donald Trump but about "locking arms to make this country the best it can be."
Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the company wants to ensure all Americans see the benefit of AI through better, more efficient public services. The approval of Llama AI is expected to drive innovation and improve government operations, setting the stage for more rapid and potentially disruptive government automation in the months ahead.¹
