OpenAI Amends Pentagon AI Pact, Adds Mass Surveillance Safeguards

OpenAI has amended its AI deal with the Pentagon, adding new protections designed to prevent the company's technology from being used for mass surveillance of Americans.

The latest pact follows reports that Anthropic's more restrictive contract demands helped doom its own Pentagon negotiation. OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, has said the company favors technical safeguards over broad prohibitions when it comes to safety in government AI use, a stance intended to de-escalate tensions inside the industry.

Outside the contract talks, hundreds of tech employees across America signed an open letter urging the Department of War and Congress to withdraw Anthropic's supply chain risk designation. They argue the move threatens American innovation and should be resolved through commercial channels rather than government action.

Observers note that the patchwork of government procurement rules and safety standards will continue to shape which AI firms win defense deals, with safeguards and governance playing a central role.

Amid the broader debate, some see a transition to contracts that emphasize risk controls and verifiable safeguards rather than indiscriminate bans, as agencies test how best to harness AI while protecting civil liberties.

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