Pentagon Begins Secret Testing of OpenAI Models in 2023, Contrary to Existing Military Policy

OpenAI's Military Deal: A Complex Web of Partnerships

OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company, has been at the center of controversy following a recent deal with the US government to allow its AI models to be used for classified use cases by the military. However, a new report by WIRED reveals that the US military had started experimenting with OpenAI models as early as 2023, despite a blanket ban on the military accessing its AI models.

According to the report, OpenAI employees discovered that the Pentagon had begun experimenting with their models via Azure OpenAI, a version of OpenAI models offered by Microsoft. Microsoft, a long-time backer of OpenAI, had been contracting with the Department of Defense for decades. The report notes that in 2023, OpenAI employees even saw Pentagon officials walking through the company's San Francisco offices.

In response to the controversy, OpenAI updated its blanket ban on military use cases in January 2024. The company also announced a partnership with Anduril to develop and deploy AI models for "national security missions" in December 2024. Microsoft has stated that its Azure OpenAI Service became available to the US government in 2023, but was not approved for "top secret" government workloads until 2025.

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The deal has divided OpenAI employees, with some expressing concerns about the company's involvement in military use cases. Sarah Shoker, former head of OpenAI's geopolitics team, has criticized the deal, stating that it will hinder understanding of the effects of military AI in war due to layers of opacity.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has maintained that the company does not get to make the calls on how the Defense Department uses its AI tools. He has also expressed interest in selling the company's AI models to NATO.

Key Figures:

• OpenAI: Artificial intelligence company
• US government: Partnered with OpenAI for classified use cases
• Microsoft: Backer of OpenAI and provider of Azure OpenAI Service
• Pentagon: Experimented with OpenAI models in 2023
• Anduril: Partnered with OpenAI for national security missions
• Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO
• Sarah Shoker: Former head of OpenAI's geopolitics team

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