"OpenAI Likely to Become a Direct Catalyst for Entry into the Defense Industry"
OpenAI, the developer of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) ChatGPT, announced on the 4th (local time) that it is partnering with the U.S. private defense contractor Anduril. Local media view this partnership as a signal that OpenAI, which has aimed for safe AI, is making a full-scale entry into the defense industry.
According to foreign media such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the core of the partnership between the two companies is that Anduril will utilize OpenAI technology, and OpenAI will use Anduril's data to train its software. For example, Anduril's unmanned drones using OpenAI technology can increase the accuracy and speed of detecting hazardous materials, thereby reducing dangerous situations.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said in a statement, "This partnership will help protect U.S. soldiers and assist national security groups in understanding and responsibly using this technology to ensure civilian safety." Brian Schimpf, CEO of Anduril, stated, "this partnership will play a central role in developing and responsibly deploying AI for national security missions."
OpenAI's move to enter the defense industry, despite emphasizing safe AI use, has been detected in several areas. OpenAI is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop cybersecurity tools and has removed clauses from its service policy terms that prohibited the use of its AI for military and war applications. However, it still prohibits the use of its AI technology in offensive weapons. This year, the recruitment of former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) Director Paul Nakasone as a board member and former Department of Defense official Sasha Baker to form a national security policy-related team was also seen as a step toward entering the defense industry.
This is the first time OpenAI has partnered with a private defense contractor. Some evaluations suggest that this is related to OpenAI's sense of crisis in response to competing AI companies recently aggressively forming alliances with private defense contractors. Anthropic, an AI startup invested in by Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce company, announced last month that it would partner with AI defense company Palantir to provide AI access to the U.S. Department of Defense. Palantir, which analyzes information that determines the outcome of wars using AI, is known as a highly regarded company in the context of modern warfare where cutting-edge weapons are being utilized.
Bloomberg News predicted, "This partnership will be the biggest opportunity for OpenAI to enter the defense industry." WSJ noted, "If OpenAI enters the defense industry, it could help reduce the billions of dollars in losses occurring annually."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
