OpenAI has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy its artificial intelligence models within the department’s classified network, Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman announced.
Altman said the agreement followed extensive discussions focused on safety, governance and the responsible use of advanced AI systems in sensitive government environments.
According to Altman, the Defense Department demonstrated “a deep respect for safety” and agreed to incorporate key principles into the partnership. He said the deal includes prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and maintains human responsibility for the use of force, including autonomous weapons systems.
“The DoD agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement,” Altman said.
OpenAI said its models will operate exclusively within secure cloud environments rather than on local or edge infrastructure, a move designed to strengthen security and oversight. The company also plans to deploy field engineers to support implementation and ensure compliance with technical safeguards.
The agreement comes days after OpenAI secured a record $110 billion private funding round, underscoring its expanding role in both commercial and government AI deployments.
The development follows action by U.S. President Donald Trump targeting rival AI firm Anthropic. The administration ordered federal agencies to halt the use of Anthropic’s software, and the Pentagon designated the company a supply-chain risk after a dispute over AI safeguards.
OpenAI declined to comment on whether its services would replace Anthropic’s previous work with the department.
