OpenAI pursues NATO contract for AI technology deployment amid employee concerns
8 Sources
[1]
OpenAI looking at contract with NATO, source says
March 3 (Reuters) - OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) "unclassified" networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon. The Wall Street Journal first
[2]
Altman Reportedly Tells Staff OpenAI Wants Another Classified Contract. This Time with NATO
The AI giant is in the middle of a consumer backlash after it made a deal with the U.S. Department of Defense. Multiple news outlets got a peek at transcripts from an OpenAI all-hands meeting Tuesday in which CEO Sam Altman sought to soothe his apparently agitated employees in the wake of the
[3]
OpenAI May Be Doubling Down on Defense With a Reported NATO Deal
OpenAI is reportedly considering a deal to supply NATO with AI solutions, just days after making a similar deal with the United States Department of War. According to The Wall Street Journal, during an all-hands meeting on Tuesday, Sam Altman told OpenAI staff that the company was "looking at a
[4]
OpenAI Looking at Contract With NATO, Source Says
March 3 (Reuters) - OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) "unclassified" networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon. The Wall Street Journal first
[5]
OpenAI looking at contract with NATO, source says
The Wall Street Journal first reported that OpenAI was considering an agreement with NATO. The newspaper said the OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, had initially said in a company meeting that it was looking to deploy on all NATO classified networks, but a company spokeswoman later clarified to the Journal
[6]
OpenAI looking at contract with NATO, source says
Image credit: Getty Images OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) "unclassified" networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon. The Wall Street Journal
[7]
OpenAI considering new contract with NATO after Pentagon deal- reports By Investing.com
Investing.com-- OpenAI is looking at a new contract with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, several media reports showed on Tuesday, after the ChatGPT maker announced a deal with the U.S. Defense Department. The Wall Street Journal first reported comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that the
[8]
OpenAI looking at contract with NATO, source says
March 3 (Reuters) - OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) "unclassified" networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon. The Wall Street Journal first
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OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on NATO's unclassified networks, just days after securing a Pentagon deal. CEO Sam Altman addressed employee concerns at a company meeting, calling the Pentagon agreement a complex but right decision with difficult brand consequences. The move follows Anthropic's removal from Pentagon talks over ethical concerns surrounding AI use in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
OpenAI Explores Contract with NATO for Unclassified Networks
OpenAI is considering a contract with NATO to deploy its AI technology on the military alliance's unclassified networks, according to a person familiar with the matter
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. The development comes just days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon to deploy its technology on the Department of Defense's classified network. During a company-wide meeting on Tuesday, Sam Altman initially told staff that OpenAI was "looking at a contract to deploy on all North Atlantic Treaty Organization classified networks," but a company spokeswoman later clarified that Altman misspoke and the contract opportunity was actually for NATO's unclassified networks2
. NATO, a 32-member military alliance, has not yet commented on the potential agreement.
Source: Inc.
Pentagon Deal Sparks Employee Concerns and Internal Tensions
The purpose of Tuesday's all-hands meeting was to address employee concerns about OpenAI's surprise deal with the Pentagon announced on Friday, February 27
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. Altman acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating "I think this was an example of a complex, but right decision with extremely difficult brand consequences and very negative PR for us in the short term"4
. Multiple news outlets reported that Altman appeared conciliatory during the meeting, with some reports indicating he has been vocally criticized by employees and seemed to regret looking "not united with the field"2
. The Pentagon contract, announced through OpenAI's OpenAI for Government product, was awarded through the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) and is worth up to $200 million in projects2
.
Source: Gulf Business
Anthropic Standoff Highlights Ethical Concerns Surrounding AI in Military Contexts
The OpenAI contract with NATO comes after U.S. President Donald Trump directed the government to stop working with rival Anthropic
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. Anthropic's removal followed a standoff in contract talks with the Pentagon over the use of the firm's technology. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had stressed the company's opposition to the Pentagon using its AI models for mass surveillance or to power fully autonomous weapons5
. The Pentagon has previously stated it had no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans or developing weapons that operate without human involvement, but wanted any lawful use of AI to be allowed.Related Stories
OpenAI Clarifies Safeguards Against Domestic Surveillance
In an updated statement on Monday after striking a deal on Friday, OpenAI said its AI systems "shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals"
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. The company added that the Pentagon also affirmed that AI services would not be used by U.S. intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA). OpenAI's original proposed terms included language stating the technology "will not be used to independently direct autonomous weapons in any case where law, regulation, or Department policy requires human control"3
. The company later amended the classified contract with more specific definitions for domestic surveillance activities.Defense Budgets Signal Broader AI Gold Rush in Military Sector
NATO signaled last year that its members would be increasing their defense budgets drastically, triggering what venture capitalist Dave Harden described as an "AI gold rush"
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. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, Amazon and others, appears positioned to capitalize on this trend despite the consumer backlash it currently faces1
. Apple recently announced that it received approval from NATO to use iPhones and iPads for classified NATO purposes—a first for any consumer device2
. The Pentagon contract grants permission for the Department of Defense to use OpenAI's technology freely, without OpenAI getting to "make operational decisions," raising questions about oversight and accountability as AI in military contexts expands rapidly.
Source: Market Screener
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