OpenAI Deploys AI on Classified Networks
OpenAI has reached a deal with the Department of War (DOW) to deploy its AI models inside classified government networks. The move deepens the company's ties to national security and is likely to spark further debate over the oversight and risks of dual-use AI technology.
The deal materialized just hours after President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to cease using technology from OpenAI's rival, Anthropic. Anthropic had been in a standoff with the Department of War, refusing to remove contractual safeguards that prevented its AI, Claude, from being used for mass domestic surveillance or to power fully autonomous weapons. In response to Anthropic's refusal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the company a "supply chain risk," effectively blacklisting it from government contracts. OpenAI's agreement to deploy its large language models was announced by CEO Sam Altman, who stated the DOW shares the company's commitment to "prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force." OpenAI asserts its agreement has more robust safeguards than Anthropic's original contract, citing a multi-layered approach. This includes deploying the AI on a cloud-only basis, which prevents integration directly into hardware like drones, retaining full control over its safety systems, and having cleared OpenAI personnel involved in oversight. The agreement has nonetheless sparked significant backlash, leading to a "delete ChatGPT" campaign online and an open letter from hundreds of Google and OpenAI employees. Critics and some of OpenAI's own researchers have expressed skepticism, pointing out that the contract's allowance for "all lawful purposes" could create loopholes for surveillance. Following the public outcry, CEO Sam Altman admitted the deal's rollout looked "opportunistic and sloppy" and announced an amendment to the contract. The updated agreement explicitly bars OpenAI's technology from being used for the "deliberate tracking, surveillance, or monitoring of U.S. persons or nationals" and prohibits its use by intelligence agencies like the NSA without a follow-on modification to the contract. This partnership is part of a broader push by the Pentagon to integrate cutting-edge AI. The Department of War has also awarded contracts to other major AI labs, including Google and Elon Musk's xAI, for "frontier AI projects." The move to work with OpenAI is seen as a significant step in the military's race to adopt advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.
