As a part of the partnership, OpenAI will combine its software program into Anduril's counterdrone programs, which detect and disable drones. It's OpenAI's first partnership with a protection contractor — and a big reversal of its earlier stance towards the army. OpenAI's phrases of service as soon as prohibited “army and warfare” use of its know-how, however it eliminated its stance on army use earlier this yr, amending its phrases of service in January to take away the ban.
“OpenAI is constructing AI to learn as many individuals as attainable and helps US-led efforts to make sure that know-how helps democratic values,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned in an announcement. “Our partnership with Anduril will assist be certain that OpenAI know-how protects US army personnel and assist the nationwide safety group perceive and responsibly use this know-how to maintain our residents secure and free.”
That Wall Avenue Journal notes, Anduril — presently valued at $14 billion — has a $200 million counter-drone programs contract with the Marine Corps. However OpenAI won’t solely profit financially from its Anduril partnership; it can additionally acquire political affect. Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey was an early supporter of President-elect Donald Trump and likewise has ties to Elon Musk, one of many heads of the nonetheless nebulous (and nonetheless non-existent) Division of Authorities Effectivity. And the America First Coverage Institute, a right-wing assume tank working carefully with Trump's transition group, has proposed that Trump embrace synthetic intelligence to create a brand new “Manhattan Venture” for protection.