OpenAI announces $290 million contract with Pentagon

On June 16, 2025 local time, OpenAI announced that it had signed a $200 million (approximately 29 billion yen) contract with the United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) . Under this contract, OpenAI will help the Department of Defense identify ways to use cutting-edge AI to transform government operations and prototype AI systems.

Introducing OpenAI for Government | OpenAI
https://openai.com/global-affairs/introducing-openai-for-government/

> US Department of Defense > Contract
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4218062/

OpenAI wins $200 million US defense contract
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/16/openai-wins-200-million-us-defense-contract.html

On June 16, OpenAI launched a new initiative called 'OpenAI for Government' focused on providing cutting-edge AI tools to public servants across the U.S. 'Our goal is to provide AI solutions that will empower public servants, reduce cumbersome procedures and paperwork, and allow them to focus more on their daily work: serving the American people,' OpenAI said.

The company also announced a $200 million contract through the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) as the first partnership in the OpenAI for Government initiative.

'This contract, valued at up to $200 million, will leverage OpenAI's industry-leading expertise to help the Department of Defense identify and prototype how cutting-edge AI can transform government operations -- from improving how service members and their families receive health care, to streamlining the process of analyzing program and acquisition data, to supporting proactive cyber defense,' OpenAI said.

All use cases brought under this contract must comply with OpenAI's usage policies and guidelines. The contract period is one year, ending in July 2026, and work is expected to take place primarily in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, including several counties in Maryland and Virginia.

Prior to this agreement, OpenAI announced a partnership with Anduril, a defense technology company founded by Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey, in December 2024.

It was also reported that in January 2024, the wording prohibiting 'weapons development' and use for 'military or war purposes' was removed from ChatGPT's policies.

OpenAI removes 'prohibition of use for military or war purposes' from ChatGPT policy - GIGAZINE

Just before this contract, Anthropic, a competitor of OpenAI, announced 'Claude Gov,' an AI model designed specifically for the US defense and intelligence agencies. The relationship between AI development companies and defense agencies is becoming increasingly closer.

Anthropic launches 'Claude Gov' AI model for defense and intelligence agencies - GIGAZINE