OpenAI Hardware Chief Resigns Over Pentagon AI Deal Concerns

TLDR

• OpenAI hardware lead Caitlin Kalinowski resigned over the company’s deal to deploy AI on Pentagon classified cloud networks.
• She cited concerns about surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization.
• Kalinowski called it a “governance concern,” saying the deal was announced without guardrails defined.
• OpenAI responded saying its “red lines” rule out domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
• The deal came after Anthropic was flagged as a supply chain risk over its own stance on surveillance and lethal AI autonomy.

Caitlin Kalinowski, who led hardware at OpenAI, resigned on Saturday after the company struck a deal to provide AI services to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Kalinowski announced her departure in a post on X, saying the decision was made on principle. She had joined OpenAI in 2024 after leading augmented reality hardware at Meta Platforms.

The company had previously said the Pentagon deal includes additional safeguards to protect how its AI models are used.

Why OpenAI Got the Deal Over Anthropic

The deal with the Pentagon came about after Anthropic, the AI company backed by Google and Amazon, was designated a supply chain risk. That designation was linked to Anthropic’s own stance on surveillance and lethal AI autonomy.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI stepped in to fill that gap, agreeing to deploy its AI models on the Pentagon’s classified cloud networks.

Altman has said the deal includes safety guardrails. OpenAI’s statement on Saturday reaffirmed that position.

What It Means for OpenAI’s Leadership

Reuters could not immediately reach Kalinowski for further comment.

Her resignation highlights internal tension at OpenAI over military contracts. She is one of the most senior executives to leave over the Pentagon agreement.

OpenAI has not announced a replacement for her role overseeing hardware.

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