OpenAI CEO defends Pentagon agreement amid employee and industry opposition — The Wall Street Journal

Investing.com – OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded on Tuesday to employee concerns regarding the company’s decision to allow the Pentagon to use its AI tools in classified operations.

The company disclosed its agreement with the Department of Defense last Friday. On the same day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listed competitor Anthropic as a supply chain risk. Amid criticism that the agreement could lead to widespread surveillance, OpenAI revised the deal to explicitly prohibit domestic monitoring activities.

According to statements reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Altman told employees during a meeting that he does not regret reaching the agreement with the Department of Defense but acknowledged that the timing of the announcement was problematic. He told employees that the rollout appeared “opportunistic” and “not aligned with industry unity.” These comments are consistent with a memo he distributed to staff on Monday and posted on X, in which he described the agreement as seeming “opportunistic and hasty.”

The decision has sparked criticism within OpenAI and among AI researchers across Silicon Valley in recent days. Critics argue that the move capitulates to Pentagon pressure and permits the use of AI in all legal scenarios.

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