OpenAI has reached an agreement with the US Department of Defense to deploy its AI models on classified military networks, just hours after the White House ordered federal agencies to stop using technology from rival company Anthropic.
In a post late Friday on X, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced the deal, saying the company would make its models available within the Pentagon’s “secret network.” He wrote that management demonstrated a “deep respect for safety” and a willingness to work within the company’s operating limits.
The announcement came amid a turbulent week for the artificial intelligence sector. Earlier the same day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Anthropics as a “national security supply chain risk,” a label typically applied to foreign adversaries. The ruling requires defense contractors to certify that they are not using the company’s models.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has directed every US federal agency to immediately stop using human technology, with a six-month transition period for agencies already relying on its systems.
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Pentagon humanitarian talks on limits to use of artificial intelligence collapse
Anthropic was the first AI lab to deploy models across the Pentagon’s classified environment under a $200 million contract signed in July. Negotiations collapsed after the company demanded guarantees that its software would not be used for autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance. The Department of Defense insisted that the technology be available for all legitimate military purposes.
Anthropic said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened” by the classification and intended to appeal the decision in court. The company warned that the move could set a precedent affecting how US technology companies negotiate with government agencies, as political scrutiny of AI partnerships continues to intensify.
OpenAI maintains similar restrictions and these have been included in the new agreement, Altman said. According to him, the company prohibits domestic mass surveillance and requires human responsibility in decisions involving the use of force, including automatic weapons systems.
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OpenAI faces backlash after deal
Meanwhile, some users on X expressed their doubts. “I just canceled ChatGPT and bought Claude Pro Max,” wrote Christopher Hill, an American Democratic politician. He added: “One of them defends the God-given rights of the American people. The other supports tyrants.”
“2019 OpenAI: We will never help build weapons or surveillance tools. 2026 OpenAI: War Department, keep my secret cloud instance. Integrity arc go brrrrrrr,” one cryptocurrency user wrote.
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