OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company, announced today that it has formed a partnership with Anduril, a defense startup that specializes in developing missiles, drones, and software for the US military. This collaboration is part of a growing trend in Silicon Valley, where major tech companies are increasingly open to working with the defense industry.
According to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company’s goal is to use AI for the benefit of as many people as possible, while also supporting efforts to ensure that the technology upholds democratic values. Anduril’s CEO, Brian Schimpf, echoed this sentiment, stating that the two companies are committed to developing responsible solutions that can help military and intelligence operators make faster and more accurate decisions in high-pressure situations.
One former OpenAI employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the company’s AI models will be used to improve air defense systems. This will allow operators to assess drone threats more quickly and accurately, providing them with the information they need to make better decisions while staying safe.
Earlier this year, OpenAI changed its policy on the use of its AI for military applications. While some staff members were reportedly unhappy with this decision, there were no public protests. It has also been reported that the US military is already using some of OpenAI’s technology.
Anduril is currently developing an advanced air defense system that utilizes a swarm of small, autonomous aircraft controlled through a language model interface. This interface translates natural language commands into instructions that can be understood and executed by both human pilots and drones. While Anduril has been using open source language models for testing, it is not known if they are currently using advanced AI to control their autonomous systems.
In the past, many AI researchers in Silicon Valley were opposed to working with the military. However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attitudes have shifted and more tech companies are open to military work. With AI being seen as a transformative and geopolitically significant technology, many companies are now willing to explore opportunities in the defense sector. This also presents a lucrative revenue stream for AI firms.
