OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tells staff in all-hands meeting that company cannot control military's operational decisions on AI use; defends Pentagon deal after Anthropic blacklisted, says DoD chooses how technology used in Iran strikes, Venezuela operations.

Sam Altman tells OpenAI staffers that military's 'operational decisions' are up to the government

Open AI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a talk session with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at an event titled "Transforming Business through AI" in Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2025.Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty ImagesOpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees in an all-hands meeting on Tuesday that the company doesn't "get to make operational decisions" regarding how its artificial intelligence technology is used by the Department of Defense. "So maybe you think the Iran strike was good and the Venezuela invasion was ...