U.S. Government Approves Meta’s Llama AI for Federal Agency Use

The General Services Administration has added Meta's free AI model, Llama, to its list of pre-approved tools for federal agencies. The decision allows government entities to test the large language model—capable of processing text, video, images, and audio—within a secured framework. Procurement lead Josh Gruenbaum emphasized the MOVE aligns with broader efforts to streamline AI adoption across agencies while meeting strict security and legal standards.

Llama joins offerings from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI on the GSA's validated list. Vendors have agreed to discounted pricing for paid products, though Gruenbaum dismissed speculation about political motivations. "It's about locking arms to make this country the best it can be," he said, framing the initiative as a push for practical outcomes over bureaucratic hurdles.

Expected applications focus on automating routine tasks, including contract processing—a signal of growing institutional confidence in generative AI. The approvals reflect a deliberate balancing act between innovation and responsible deployment in sensitive government operations.