Foresight News reports that, according to Fortune, sources reveal that OpenAI founder Sam Altman stated at the conference that OpenAI is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense to reach a potential agreement on using its AI models and tools. The contract has not been signed yet. OpenAI will retain control over the implementation of technical safeguards, the deployment targets, and regions, limiting deployment to cloud environments rather than “edge systems” (in military contexts, edge systems may include aircraft and drones). As a significant concession, the government has agreed to include OpenAI’s “red lines” in the contract, such as prohibiting AI from being used in autonomous weapons systems, domestic mass surveillance, and critical decision-making areas.
Previously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tweeted that the Department of Defense has listed Anthropic as a supply chain risk. From now on, any contractors, suppliers, or partners doing business with the U.S. military are prohibited from engaging in any commercial activities with Anthropic.