OpenAI walks back Pentagon details after backlash

 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman just posted a note on X detailing significant revisions to the company’s initial Pentagon contract, coming amid employee pushback, user cancellations, and a surge of sign-ups to Anthropic following the deal.

OAI’s original agreement used the same language Anthropic had refused, finalized within 24 hours following the Pentagon’s ban of its rival.

Altman called the deal "rushed" and said it looked “opportunistic and sloppy,” adding that he would “rather go to jail” than follow an unconstitutional order. He held an all-hands on Tuesday, calling the deal “complex but the right decision with extremely difficult brand consequences and negative PR for us."

Research scientist Noam Brown clarified that OAI “will not be deploying to the NSA or other DoW intelligence agencies for now,” as loopholes are addressed.