tech
February 27, 2026
Sam Altman aims to 'help de-escalate' tensions with Pentagon as OpenAI employees voice support for Anthropic
Altman said OpenAI shares Anthropic's red lines when it comes to use of its models, according to a memo he shared with employees.
TL;DR
- Sam Altman wants OpenAI to help de-escalate issues between Anthropic and the Department of Defense.
- OpenAI believes AI should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, with humans remaining in control of high-stakes decisions.
- Anthropic has a deadline to decide whether to grant the Pentagon unlimited use of its AI models, seeking assurances against autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.
- OpenAI employees have signed an open letter supporting Anthropic's concerns and expressing solidarity.
- Altman stated OpenAI has a $200 million contract with the DOD for non-classified use cases, and is exploring deploying its models in classified environments while adhering to its principles.
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