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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared a social media platform earlier this month where he raised concerns over what he described as “double standards” by American tech companies in dealing with the US government.
The comments come amid the ongoing dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon after the AI company refused to provide access to its AI tools for certain defence-related purposes, triggering a series of events including Anthropic’s lawsuit against Pentagon. In the post shared on X on March 1, Sam Altman said the AI industry has been sending mixed signals to the government. “Our industry tells them ‘The technology we are building is going to be the high order bit in geopolitical conflict.
China is rushing ahead. You are very behind.’ And then we say ‘But we won't help you, and we think you are kind of evil,’” he wrote.He added, “I don't think I'd react great in that situation.”In the post, Altman said he believes companies should support the government, especially in areas linked to national security, while also ensuring fair access for all AI labs. He also clarified OpenAI’s position on defence-related use of its ai technology saying the ChatGPT-maker “started talking with the DoW many months ago about our non-classified work”. He further added that the situation “shifted into high gear on the classified side.
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Here’s the full post shared by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
For a long time, we were planning to non-classified work only. We thought the DoW clearly needed an AI partner, and doing classified work is clearly much more complex. We have said no to previous deals in classified settings that Anthropic took.We started talking with the DoW many months ago about our non-classified work.This week things shifted into high gear on the classified side. We found the DoW to be flexible on what we needed, and we want to support them in their very important mission.The reason for rushing is an attempt to de-escalate the situation. I think the current path things are on is dangerous for Anthropic, healthy competition, and the US. We negotiated to make sure similar terms would be offered to all other AI labs.I know what it's like to feel backed into a corner, and I think it's worth some empathy to the DoW. They are on the a very dedicated group of people with, as I mentioned, an extremely important mission. I cannot imagine doing their work.Our industry tells them "The technology we are building is going to be the high order bit in geopolitical conflict. China is rushing ahead. You are very behind."And then we say"But we won't help you, and we think you are kind of evil."I don't think I'd react great in that situation.I do not believe unelected leaders of private companies should have as much power as our democratically elected government. But I do think we need to help them.
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