OpenAI National Security Lead Flags Governance Gap as Pentagon AI Contracts Proceed Without Autonomous Weapons Safeguards

OpenAI's national security policy lead Sasha Baker called for a workforce transformation to ensure appropriate human judgment in defense AI operations, warning that consequences of incorrect AI decisions vary dramatically by use case. Senator Elizabeth Warren opened an investigation into the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a national security risk alongside the new OpenAI contract. Legal experts have flagged that OpenAI's $200 million DoD contract language contains generalities and carve-outs that could permit use for domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons despite nominal prohibitions.