On March 3, 2023, OpenAI announced revisions to its agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), prohibiting the use of its AI tools for domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens. Following backlash over its initial, contentious deal—made in haste after Anthropic’s refusal to collaborate due to ethical concerns—CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the need for improved communication and transparency. OpenAI’s new contract clarifies that its AI systems will not be intentionally used for tracking or monitoring citizens, a limitation fully understood by the DoD. Amid rising public criticism, including an open letter from over 900 OpenAI and Google employees opposing the surveillance use, OpenAI emphasized that it aims to collaborate with the Pentagon on technical safeguards. The backlash led to increased uninstalls of OpenAI’s ChatGPT app and boosted downloads of Anthropic’s Claude app, illustrating public concern about ethical AI practices.
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