Future wars might one day be fought with AI, as OpenAI won a major $200 million government contract.
This agreement will see the artificial intelligence company develop a ‘warfighting’ AI.
OpenAI, which is the firm behind ChatGPT, is working with the Department of Defense to create an AI that can work for the US military.
In a post of awarded contracts by the Department of Defense, the department said: “Under this award, the performer will develop prototype frontier AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise domains.”
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It’s the first contract with OpenAI listed on the department’s website.
In response to the news, OpenAI said: “This contract, with a $200 million ceiling, will bring OpenAI’s industry-leading expertise to help the Defense Department identify and prototype how frontier AI can transform its administrative operations, from improving how service members and their families get health care, to streamlining how they look at program and acquisition data, to supporting proactive cyber defense.
“All use cases must be consistent with OpenAI’s usage policies and guidelines.”
This news also comes as OpenAI announced its new ‘OpenAI for Government’ yesterday (June 17).
According to the company, this initiative is ‘focused on bringing our most advanced AI tools to public servants across the United States. We're supporting the US government’s efforts in adopting best-in-class technology and deploying these tools in service of the public good.
“Our goal is to unlock AI solutions that enhance the capabilities of government workers, help them cut down on the red tape and paperwork, and let them do more of what they come to work each day to do: serve the American people.”
Through the program, OpenAI will be offering US federal, state and local governments access to ‘our most capable models within secure and compliant environments, including through ChatGPT Enterprise and ChatGPT Gov’, as well as hands-on support, custom models for national security and ‘insight into what’s coming next so government customers can plan ahead and anticipate new ways to apply our tools to their most important work’.
The AI company stated that with ‘OpenAI for Government’ along with the contract with the Department of Defense, it is ‘aiming to improve both the day-to-day experience of public service and to help government employees feel more empowered, more efficient, and more supported in their critical missions’.
OpenAI added: “We are just getting started, and we look forward to helping US government leaders harness AI to better serve the public. We are committed to working in close partnership with agencies, advancing their missions with powerful tools that are safe, and secure.”