On Tuesday, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, announced its collaboration with the United States Defense Department on cybersecurity initiatives and efforts to address veteran suicide prevention, as reported by Bloomberg. This partnership was disclosed by OpenAI during an interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While OpenAI has recently adjusted its policies to allow for specific military applications of its technology, it maintains strict prohibitions against the development of weapons.
Anna Makanju, the Vice President of Global Affairs at OpenAI, highlighted that the previous restrictions on military applications were perceived to limit potential beneficial use cases aligned with the company’s values. OpenAI revised its service agreement to eliminate clauses that restricted AI utilization in military and warfare scenarios. However, the company continues to enforce a ban on the use of its technology for weapon development or causing harm or damage to property.
In the “Universal Policies” section of OpenAI’s Usage Policies document, section 2 emphasizes the prohibition against using their services for self-harm or harming others, which includes the development or deployment of weapons. Changes to the terms removing restrictions related to “military and warfare” applications were implemented by OpenAI on January 10.
This policy shift indicates OpenAI’s closer alignment with the requirements of governmental entities, potentially extending to initiatives such as preventing veteran suicides. Anna Makanju mentioned ongoing collaborations with the Department of Defense on cybersecurity solutions for safeguarding critical infrastructure in open-source software and exploring the potential role of AI in veteran suicide prevention efforts.
This strategic pivot represents a notable departure from OpenAI’s previous stance on military engagements, according to Bloomberg. In contrast, Microsoft Corp., a significant investor in OpenAI, already has established connections with the US military through diverse software agreements.
