OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responds to deal with Department of War
Source: Mashable Tech
OpenAI’s Deal with the U.S. Department of War (DOW)
OpenAI has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of War (DOW) to provide its AI tools for use in “classified environments.” The partnership was announced on Saturday via OpenAI’s blog post, Our Agreement with the Department of War.
OpenAI states that the agreement includes guardrails that prohibit:
- Mass domestic surveillance
- Autonomous weapons
- High‑stakes automated decisions (e.g., “social credit” systems)
The company claims these safeguards are more enforceable than those offered by rival Anthropic because the technology will be delivered via the cloud and OpenAI personnel will remain in the loop.
Background
-
Trump’s announcement – One day after OpenAI’s deal was revealed, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government would no longer use technology from Anthropic (including the Claude model).
- Source: Mashable – Trump bans Anthropic
- Trump posted about the split on Truth Social: Truth Social post
-
Anthropic’s response – Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei explained that the DOW demanded the removal of safeguards against mass surveillance and fully AI‑controlled weapons.
- Full statement: Anthropic press release
“In a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values,” Amodei wrote. “Some uses are also simply outside the bounds of what today’s technology can safely and reliably do.”
OpenAI’s Claims
- Cloud‑only deployment – By providing the AI via the cloud, OpenAI says it can retain “full discretion over our safety stack” and monitor usage.
- Personnel oversight – Cleared OpenAI staff will be involved in the DOW’s operations, allowing the company to see how its technology is used.
- Legal protections – OpenAI emphasizes that its contract adds “strong contractual protections” on top of existing U.S. law.
“We don’t know why Anthropic could not reach this deal, and we hope that they and more labs will consider it,” the announcement reads.
Contract Language (Excerpt)
“The Department of War may use the AI System for all lawful purposes, consistent with applicable law, operational requirements, and well‑established safety and oversight protocols.”
“Any use of AI in autonomous and semi‑autonomous systems must undergo rigorous verification, validation, and testing to ensure they perform as intended in realistic environments before deployment.”
The excerpt indicates that OpenAI’s technology will be barred only where use is illegal. The contract also allows usage in autonomous systems provided human control is not required by DOW policy or law.
Reactions
- Katrina Mulligan (Head of National Security Partnerships, OpenAI) responded on LinkedIn, reiterating that the cloud deployment and personnel involvement are additional safeguards.
- LinkedIn post: OpenAI’s agreement with the DOW
“[The DOW’s] position was, build the model however you want, refuse whatever requests you want, just don’t try to govern our operational decisions through usage policies,” Mulligan wrote.
Concerns
- Effectiveness of safeguards – Critics question whether cloud‑only delivery and staff oversight are sufficient to prevent misuse, especially given the contract’s allowance for “lawful” use that could still encompass controversial applications.
- Ethical stance – OpenAI’s reluctance to take a firmer public ethical position on these issues has drawn skepticism.
You May Also Like
- OpenAI vs. Anthropic: The AI Arms Race in Government Contracts
- Trump’s Ban on Anthropic: What It Means for AI Regulation
This article was originally published on Mashable Light Speed.
Sam Altman Speaks on OpenAI’s Deal with the Department of War
Background
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman held a Q&A on X to address concerns about the Department of War (DoW) contract. The discussion was largely unproductive. Altman admitted the deal “was definitely rushed, and the optics don’t look good” and said the goal was to de‑escalate tensions between the DoW and the AI industry.
“I think a good relationship between the government and the companies developing this technology is critical over the next couple of years.” – Sam Altman
While the agreement may bring OpenAI and the U.S. government closer, many civilian ChatGPT users feel alienated.
Key Exchanges
| Topic | Altman’s Position | Notable Reactions |
|---|---|---|
| Lawful use vs. mass surveillance | Shared a post from U.S. Under Secretary of War Emil Michael stating the DoW “does not spy on domestic communication of U.S. people… and to do so would be unlawful and profoundly un‑American.” | Users cite Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations of NSA mass‑surveillance and HRW’s 2017 accusations of warrantless monitoring. |
| Constitutional limits | Stated he would refuse to use OpenAI’s technology for mass domestic surveillance because “it violates the Constitution.” | Some users doubt this, pointing to past broken promises (e.g., board overruling, nonprofit‑to‑for‑profit shift, ads in ChatGPT). |
| Ethical responsibility | “We are not elected… Following orders is not an excuse for unethical behavior.” | @MagisterLudiX: “Either you have strong red lines or you see it as purely transactional, depending on political context.” |
| Tool vs. weapon | “AI is a tool. A hard limit on it is a limit like any other tool has.” – @genericrohan | Highlights the need for clear boundaries for military use. |
Selected user quotes
“The government already has broken the law and illegally surveilled US citizens,” – @bolts6629
“Other things you’ve said you wouldn’t do: overrule the OpenAI board, remove the nonprofit structure, put ads in ChatGPT.” – @Laneless_
Community Reaction
-
Subscription cancellations – Numerous ChatGPT users are reportedly cancelling their paid plans. Reddit threads show a surge in cancellations and a migration toward Anthropic’s Claude, which recently became the most‑downloaded free app in the U.S. Apple App Store.
- Example posts:
- r/boomroom11: “OpenAI just made a deal with a devil and lost this customer of 2 years.” (26 k upvotes)
- “The company (originally nonprofit) that told us they existed to build AI safely for humanity is now taking Pentagon contracts.”
- Example posts:
-
Alternative AI adoption – Users are switching to Claude and other non‑U.S.‑government‑affiliated models, citing ethical concerns.
Sources
- Altman’s Q&A thread
- Admission of rushed deal
- Under‑Secretary Emil Michael’s statement
- Snowden’s 2013 NSA revelations
- Reuters on illegality of the program
- HRW on 2017 warrantless monitoring
- Reddit cancellation threads
Disclosure
Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025 alleging copyright infringement in training and operating its AI systems.