A senior executive from OpenAI, Caitlin Kalinowski, has resigned following the company’s controversial agreement to provide its AI models to the U.S. Department of Defense. Kalinowski expressed her disagreement through a social media post, emphasizing that using AI without judicial oversight to monitor Americans or to permit autonomous lethal capabilities was a matter demanding serious consideration. She labeled the company’s decision to contract with the Defense Department as hasty, lacking necessary safeguards. Kalinowski underlined that these actions raised fundamental governance issues regarding AI’s role in military contexts.

OpenAI announced on September 27 that it had signed a contract to support the U.S. military’s classified network with its AI technology. This development comes amidst growing scrutiny over the military uses of AI, particularly when competitor company Anthropic reportedly refused a government proposal due to ethical concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. As OpenAI moves forward as an alternate supplier, it has ignited controversy concerning the ethical implications of AI deployment in warfare.

In light of this controversy, OpenAI confirmed Kalinowski's resignation, stating that the agreement with the Defense Department aimed to responsibly harness AI for national security while ensuring that domestic surveillance and the use of autonomous weapons would still be prohibited under internal principles. Following the announcement of the contract, user backlash against the ChatGPT app has surged, with SensorTower reporting a staggering 295% increase in app deletions within a single day as users expressed their disappointment.