OpenAI looking at contract with NATO, source says
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This comes days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon.
PHOTO: REUTERS
OpenAI is considering a contract to deploy its AI technology on NATO’s “unclassified” networks, a source familiar with the matter said on March 3, days after the ChatGPT-owner struck a deal with the Pentagon.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that OpenAI was considering an agreement with NATO.
The newspaper said the OpenAI chief executive, Mr 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 that Mr Altman misspoke and the contract opportunity was for NATO’s “unclassified” networks.
NATO, a 32-member military alliance, did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, Amazon and others, announced a deal late last week to deploy its technology in the Pentagon’s classified network, after US President Donald Trump directed the government to stop working with rival Anthropic.
Mass surveillance
Anthropic’s removal followed a stand-off in contract talks with the Pentagon over the use of the firm’s technology. Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei had stressed the company’s opposition to the Pentagon using its artificial intelligence (AI) models for mass domestic surveillance or to power fully autonomous weapons.
The Pentagon has said previously it had no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans or using AI to develop weapons that operate without human involvement, but wanted any lawful use of AI to be allowed.
In an updated statement on March 2 after striking a deal on Feb 27, OpenAI said its AI systems “shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals”, adding that the Pentagon also affirmed that AI services would not be used by intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency.
“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,” Mr Altman said in a company meeting on March 3, referring to the Pentagon deal, according to the Wall Street Journal. REUTERS
