Pentagon asked OpenAI to build an AI that rarely says no

The U.S. Department of Defense asked OpenAI to develop a version of its artificial intelligence technology with “minimal refusal rates” toward military commands, according to documents obtained by The Intercept through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The clause appeared in an updated $200 million Pentagon contract, though OpenAI and the Department deny it was included in the final executed agreement, calling the released document an earlier draft.

A Justice Department attorney initially confirmed the document was the signed version before retracting that statement hours later. Heidy Khlaaf of the AI Now Institute said “minimal refusal” likely refers to reduced safeguards on the model, raising concerns about corporate influence over military AI guardrails.