CIA secret partnership with NeXT supported Steve Jobs

Reports indicate that during the late Cold War, the CIA maintained a secret relationship with NeXT, the company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple. In 1986, intelligence officials linked to classified programs approached NeXT to acquire 20,000 workstations.

This partnership provided critical financial support for NeXT at a time when the company was struggling to find a profitable market for its expensive, high-end computers. The workstations were modified with specialized processors and graphics components for use by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Analysts used these machines to examine satellite imagery, identify military movements, and monitor potential missile installations. The technology also facilitated near real-time data sharing between analysts and military commanders. This indirect support helped sustain NeXT, eventually allowing its technology to play a role in Jobs's return to Apple.