TLDR:
- OpenAI signed an agreement to deploy AI models on classified US War Department networks on February 28, 2026.
- The agreement prohibits domestic mass surveillance and requires human control over decisions about the use of lethal force.
- Anthropic reportedly rejected a similar deal with the Pentagon, citing autonomous weapons and surveillance risks.
- The backlash against X was swift, with thousands of users announcing plans to cancel ChatGPT subscriptions.
OpenAI has agreed to deploy its AI models on classified U.S. War Department networks, CEO Sam Altman announced. The deal follows reports that Anthropic publicly rejected similar Pentagon demands over concerns about autonomous weapons and surveillance.
Altman posted the ad on X, where it quickly garnered millions of views and thousands of responses. The online reaction was largely critical, with many users threatening to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions.
OpenAI and War Department Reach Deal on Classified AI
The agreement allows OpenAI models to operate within DoW classified systems under specific conditions.
altman stated that the agreement includes explicit prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance. It also requires human oversight for any use of force, including autonomous weapons systems. Deployment will occur solely on cloud networks, with OpenAI staff integrated to monitor model behavior.
Altman noted in X that the War Department agreed with these basic security principles.
According to the publication, those principles are also reflected in existing laws and policies. OpenAI said it will create technical safeguards to keep models aligned with the terms of the agreement. The company also asked the Department of Justice to extend the same conditions to all AI companies.
Altman framed the agreement as part of a broader effort to reduce friction between AI companies and the government. He wrote that OpenAI wants to stay away from legal and government conflicts.
The announcement signals a shift toward negotiated frameworks rather than confrontations. OpenAI described its mission as serving all of humanity in the midst of a “complicated, messy, and sometimes dangerous world.”
The post received more than 11,000 likes within hours of going live. Posts and responses to quotes number in the thousands. Despite the magnitude of the commitment, most of the visible reactions were negative.
Anthropic’s denial highlights OpenAI’s Pentagon move
Reports from the previous day indicated Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. rejected similar demands from the Pentagon. The denial reportedly centered on concerns about enabling mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
Amodei allegedly offered to help the DoW transition to another supplier rather than comply. That stance drew widespread praise from AI safety researchers and advocates.
The subsequent OpenAI deal was widely interpreted as a step toward the gap left by Anthropic. X’s critics accused the company of opportunism. Several users announced that they would switch from ChatGPT to claudio. Some described the move as contradictory to OpenAI’s stated security. values.
