OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced late Friday that the company had signed a deal with the Pentagon to deploy its AI tools in classified military systems. The agreement reportedly incorporates safeguards similar to those Anthropic had requested, including restrictions on domestic mass surveillance and ensuring human responsibility for the use of force.

In a statement on X, Altman said, “Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems. The DoW agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement.”

Altman added that OpenAI would send forward-deployed engineers to the Pentagon to guarantee the safe operation of its models. “We are asking the DoW to offer these same terms to all AI companies, which in our opinion we think everyone should be willing to accept. We have expressed our strong desire to see things de-escalate away from legal and governmental actions and towards reasonable agreements,” he stated.

The deal comes hours after President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI tools, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the company a “supply chain risk” for refusing to agree to Pentagon-requested restrictions. Anthropic plans to legally challenge the designation, which is typically reserved for firms linked to foreign adversaries.

It remains unclear what distinguishes OpenAI’s deal from the terms Anthropic sought. CNN has requested clarifications from both the Pentagon and OpenAI.

Hegseth shared Altman’s announcement on X, and Under Secretary Emil Michael emphasised the importance of reliable partnerships for military AI. “When it comes to matters of life and death for our warfighters, having a reliable and steady partner that engages in good faith makes all the difference as we enter into the AI Age,” he said. (AriseNews TV)

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