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Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon AI bro squad includes a former Uber executive and a private equity billionaire | The Verge

The Verge - AI February 25, 2026 11 min read Article

Summary

The article discusses a Pentagon meeting involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, former Uber executive Emil Michael, and private equity billionaire Steve Feinberg, highlighting their controversial backgrounds and the implications for AI policy.

Why It Matters

This meeting underscores the intersection of private sector influence and government defense strategies, particularly in AI development. The involvement of individuals with contentious histories raises questions about ethics and governance in AI applications within the military.

Key Takeaways

The Pentagon is negotiating hard with AI company Anthropic, emphasizing supply-chain risks.
Emil Michael's controversial past at Uber raises concerns about governance in AI.
Steve Feinberg's influence in defense contracts reflects the merging of private equity and national security.
The meeting illustrates the growing role of tech executives in shaping military AI policies.
Public scrutiny is essential as private interests increasingly intersect with defense strategies.

AIColumnPolicyPete Hegseth’s Pentagon AI bro squad includes a former Uber executive and a private equity billionaireDefense officials Steve Feinberg, the founder of Cerberus Capital Management, and Emil Michael, the former No. 2 at Uber, were reportedly at a heated Pentagon meeting with Anthropic.Defense officials Steve Feinberg, the founder of Cerberus Capital Management, and Emil Michael, the former No. 2 at Uber, were reportedly at a heated Pentagon meeting with Anthropic.by Tina NguyenFeb 25, 2026, 1:59 AM UTCLinkShareGiftU.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (L) walks with Emil Michael (R), Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering, while touring an exhibit of Multi-Domain Autonomous systems at the Pentagon July 16, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Win McNamee/Getty Images.Tina Nguyen is a Senior Reporter for The Verge and author of Regulator, covering the second Trump administration, political influencers, tech lobbying and Big Tech vs. Big Government.Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers covering the broligarchs, the influencers, and the (potentially conscious) artificial intelligence models scrambling for power in Washington. If you’re not a subscriber yet, assert your humanity against the will of the machines by signing up here.Very important news: Do you want to tell me stuff and see it printed in Regulator? Well, now you can, because we have a new tip line! Send all commentary, cool information, and ~secrets~ to tina.nguyen+tip...

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