Research scientist Aiden McLaughlin said the Pentagon agreement was “not worth it” amid mounting criticism.
ChatGPT uninstallations surged while Anthropic’s Claude climbed to the top of Apple’s US App Store rankings.
OpenAI leadership remains split, with Sam Altman defending safeguards while some employees voice concern.
OpenAI has been under fire for its recent agreement with the US Department of War. This has sparked backlash from some users and drawn mixed reactions internally. The controversy comes after the company had entered into a deal with the Pentagon to offer AI capabilities, highlighting concerns online about the potential use of its systems in military applications.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the contract includes safeguards and will not permit the use of its AI tools for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons. Even after the announcement, the AI startup is still facing criticism. Recently, OpenAI research scientist Aiden McLaughlin, in a post on X, stated that he did not believe the deal was worth it. Adding on, he stated internal discussions around the agreement were extensive and thoughtful, adding that he was proud to work at a company where employees can openly share their views.
Also read: Anthropic’s Claude now lets you transfer AI chat histories from rivals, here’s how
The criticism was also reflected in the user behaviour. As per the data from Sensor Tower, ChatGPT uninstallations surged over the weekend, while rival chatbot Claude rose to the top position on Apple’s US App Store rankings. This happened shortly after the US military reportedly ended a contract with Anthropic, citing supply chain concerns, citing supply chain concerns, a classification previously used in cases involving companies such as Huawei. On the other hand, Altman has acknowledged that the timing and communication of the Pentagon deal may have appeared rushed, even as he maintained that the intention was to establish responsible engagement between the AI sector and the defence establishment.
According to the reports, OpenAI employees have expressed different views. Safety researcher Cameron Raymond indicated that he shared concerns about the situation, while Applications chief Fidji Simo defended the move, stating that it remained the right decision despite potential costs.
