Pentagon program uses five-minute videos to speed AI procurement

The Department of Defense is granting special statuses to would-be defense contractors through a procurement program called Tradewinds, according to Wired. Companies submit videos of no more than five minutes describing how their AI products address one of several "strategic focus areas" that the government periodically updates. The program is managed by DoD's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, known as CDAO.

A panel of judges reviews submissions at least once a month and decides whether to accept them into the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, where government officials can then view the videos, according to Wired. Accepted products are considered "post-competitive," a status that can let government buyers check off competitive requirements included in many procurement regulations and potentially shave months off award timelines. A DoD official said that in several instances the department has been able to make awards using Tradewinds in less than a week.

Acceptance also lets government buyers more easily cut deals using "other transaction" agreements, or OTs, which are not subject to certain federal acquisition requirements, according to Wired. According to Wired, by law the Pentagon can spend up to $500 million on a single OT without having to notify Congress. Wired reported that not all agencies publicly report their OT spending, and that even when they do, the figures are difficult to find on government-run sites that track federal spending. Procurement experts told Wired that OTs are considered fast and flexible, which can appeal to startups that do not want to gamble on whether a months-long procurement process will result in a contract.

This year, the military is seeking video pitches for AI technology that can help "enhance force lethality" and that can "unleash" AI-enabled agents able to assist in the joint targeting process, including so-called kill chain execution. Pitches for products that promote "a culture of responsible AI" and provide guardrails for AI development and use were requested during the final Tradewinds submissions cycle under the Biden administration. A DoD official said the 2026 topics were selected to align with a January 2026 AI strategy memo.

OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are all listed as participants in Tradewinds, according to Wired. All three declined to comment for the story. According to Wired, the White House asked for $1.5 trillion for the Department of Defense in its 2027 budget request to Congress, citing "historic investments" in AI as a priority.

Daniel Driscoll, then the US Army secretary, wrote "There has never been a better time to build for the Army" in a pitch for more defense tech startups included in Y Combinator's Fall 2026 wishlist of companies to fund, according to Wired. Driscoll has since resigned from his position and returned to the private sector, according to Wired. He did not respond to a request for comment.