OpenAI has been awarded a significant contract by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), marking a deepening collaboration between the artificial intelligence firm and the federal government.
According to an official statement from the DoD, the agreement is a one-year contract valued at approximately US$200 million. Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will work with the Department to develop advanced AI prototypes aimed at addressing key national security challenges.
The scope of the work will primarily be concentrated in the National Capital Region, which includes Washington, D.C., as well as parts of Maryland and Virginia.
“Under this award, the performer will develop prototype frontier AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise domains,” the Department said in its announcement.
This partnership is not OpenAI’s first engagement with the U.S. government. In January, CEO Sam Altman joined former President Donald Trump to announce OpenAI’s support for the US$500 billion “Stargate” project—an ambitious initiative focused on building out AI infrastructure across the United States.
The new defense contract highlights the increasing role AI technologies are playing in national security and defense modernization efforts.
