NGA Awards 708M AI Data Labeling Deal to Startup
In a significant step toward modernizing geospatial intelligence capabilities, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded a $708 million contract to Enabled Intelligence Inc., a relatively young startup specializing in artificial intelligence data training and labeling. The news was first reported in the article “Startup Enabled Intelligence nabs NGA’s $708 million AI training contract,” published by Breaking Defense.
The seven-year agreement marks a notable expansion of the government’s reliance on private-sector innovation, particularly from smaller, agile firms. Under the terms of the contract, Enabled Intelligence will provide secure, human-verified AI data-labeling services for classified and unclassified missions aimed at enhancing NGA’s use of machine learning and automated decision-making. The effort is intended to accelerate the deployment of AI tools across U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.
Founded in 2021, Enabled Intelligence has drawn attention for its emphasis on using cleared personnel—many of whom are veterans or neurodiverse individuals—with the ability to work on classified data sets. This level of security clearance is seen as a key differentiator as the federal government grapples with how to train advanced algorithms on sensitive content without compromising operational integrity.
Speaking at a conference in late October, NGA Deputy Director Tonya Wilkerson emphasized the importance of incorporating trustworthy AI into the intelligence chain. With global adversaries investing heavily in their own technology arsenals, she said, ensuring that U.S. intelligence agencies have access to reliable, secure AI tools is paramount.
Enabled Intelligence CEO Jeff Stern has underscored the growing demand for high-quality labeled data, especially in environments where machine-learning algorithms must operate with near-perfect accuracy. “AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on,” Stern stated in a recent industry panel. “Our role is to eliminate ambiguity in high-stakes environments.”
The contract comes at a time when the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community as a whole are fielding an expanding number of AI initiatives—with varying degrees of reliance on commercial technology. Yet, challenges remain. Analysts have long warned of the dangers posed by biased algorithms, mislabeled data, and limited transparency in how AI systems arrive at conclusions. By focusing on human-verified data labeling within a cleared environment, Enabled Intelligence aims to mitigate some of these issues.
While larger defense contractors continue to play a critical role in the national security apparatus, this award to a startup reflects a broader shift in procurement strategy, whereby government agencies seek out specialized firms that can deliver rapid innovation without compromising on security or ethics. Enabled Intelligence’s model, which includes inclusive hiring practices alongside technical rigor, has proven appealing to federal stakeholders aiming to diversify both the workforce and approach to cutting-edge technologies.
The multi-year agreement not only represents a sizable infusion of funding into the company but also signals how seriously the NGA and the broader Intelligence Community are taking the need to responsibly integrate AI into their operations. With exponential growth in satellite imagery, signals data, and open-source intelligence, the ability to accurately sift through, label, and act on large volumes of information is becoming central to national defense strategy.
As the U.S. continues to navigate the complexities of AI adoption in security-sensitive applications, partnerships like the one with Enabled Intelligence may serve as a model for balancing innovation with oversight.
