Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Sam Altman of OpenAI Addresses ‘Painful’ Backlash from Activists Over Pentagon AI Partnership

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is addressing backlash over the company’s recent contract with the Pentagon, following protests from activists outside its San Francisco office. The deal was announced shortly after President Trump criticized competitor Anthropic, leading to immediate internal and external scrutiny. During a tense all-hands meeting, Altman defended the partnership, acknowledging that the announcement was rushed and urged employees to focus on the contract’s technical details. Despite concerns, over 100 employees signed an open letter opposing the Pentagon’s demands, reflecting a split in opinion. Altman emphasized that OpenAI aims to guide military use without operational control. Critics perceived the deal as prioritizing profits over safety, while Tom Altman reassured employees about newly added safeguards. The atmosphere at the meeting was described as respectful, albeit with tensions about the decision making process. Overall, internal responses are mixed, with some employees expressing support for the contract after clarifications.

Source link

Share

Read more

Local News