OpenAI and the Pentagon have struck a new agreement that lets the U.S. Defense Department deploy OpenAI’s AI models on classified military networks, marking a significant step in the use of commercial artificial intelligence in defense operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the pact on Friday night, saying it includes explicit safeguards that bar the technology from being used for domestic mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systems without human oversight — two ethical limits that had been at the center of a high-profile dispute between the Pentagon and another AI company, Anthropic.

The announcement came hours after President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI products, accusing the company of trying to impose its own terms on military use. In response, the Pentagon labeled Anthropic a national security “supply-chain risk” and cut ties, moves that Anthropic said it would challenge in court.

Altman emphasized that OpenAI’s deal aligns with its safety principles and that humans will remain responsible for any use of force. The broader episode highlights growing tensions over how advanced AI should be governed in national security contexts and raises questions about ethical limits on military AI deployment.

You can read the full article here: New York Times – OpenAI and Pentagon AI Agreement.