OpenAI Amends Pentagon Contract, Explicitly Bans Domestic AI Surveillance; Altman Draws Line

OpenAI is amending its contract with the Pentagon following criticism that the original agreement did not effectively prohibit the use of its AI for mass surveillance of American citizens. In response, CEO Sam Altman has directed the inclusion of explicit language that bans the use of OpenAI technology for domestic surveillance activities. This prohibition extends to scenarios where surveillance capabilities might be enabled through the purchase or use of commercially available data, closing a potential loophole. Altman has also publicly stated that the use of OpenAI's models by the National Security Agency (NSA) is currently not permitted, reinforcing the company's stance against enabling domestic intelligence operations. The move represents a significant policy clarification and a public commitment to ethical boundaries in military and government AI applications, directly addressing concerns about the potential for AI-powered mass surveillance within the United States.