OpenAI Had Banned Military Use. The Pentagon Tested Its Models Through Microsoft Anyway

"In 2023, OpenAI's usage policy explicitly banned the military from accessing its AI models. But some OpenAI employees discovered the Pentagon had already started experimenting with Azure OpenAI, a version of OpenAI's models offered by Microsoft, two sources familiar with the matter said. At the time, Microsoft had been contracting with the Department of Defense for decades."

"Some OpenAI employees were wary about associating with the Pentagon, while others were simply confused about what OpenAI's usage policies meant. Did the policy apply to Microsoft? While sources tell WIRED it was not clear to most employees at the time, spokespeople from OpenAI and Microsoft say Azure OpenAI products are not, and were not, subject to OpenAI's policies."

"While this incident has become a major news story, it may just be the latest and most public example of OpenAI creating vague policies around how the US military can access its AI."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman faces criticism following a military contract deal, with employees demanding transparency about the agreement. This incident reflects a broader pattern of unclear policies regarding military access to OpenAI's technology. In 2023, OpenAI banned military use of its models, yet Pentagon officials began experimenting with Azure OpenAI through Microsoft, which had been a longtime Defense Department contractor and OpenAI's largest investor. Employees observed Pentagon officials visiting OpenAI's offices but remained uncertain whether the usage policy applied to Microsoft's Azure service. OpenAI and Microsoft representatives claim Azure OpenAI products operate under Microsoft's terms of service, not OpenAI's policies, creating ongoing confusion about the actual scope of military restrictions.

Read at WIRED