Trending Now - Openai's Pentagon Deal Sparks Employee Frustration and Protests

WHO:

OpenAI, a technology company

Pentagon, U.S. Department of Defense

Anthropic, a rival AI company

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

Aidan McLaughlin, research scientist at OpenAI

Jasmine Wang, AI safety issues worker at OpenAI

President Donald Trump

Katy Perry, public figure endorsing Claude AI

Manuel Orbegozo, journalist for Business Insider

Perrin Milliken, climate advocate and protester

Sarah Gao, protest speaker

Meghan Matson, protester rejecting AI

Anonymous 26-year-old tech worker

WHAT:

OpenAI signed a contract with the Pentagon on March 1, 2026, to use its AI models in classified systems.

Anthropic rejected an update to its contract with the Pentagon due to concerns over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.

OpenAI's contract with the Pentagon was criticized for being rushed and perceived as opportunistic.

OpenAI announced adjustments to its Pentagon contract on March 2, 2026, to include explicit protections against surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals.

Claude AI, developed by Anthropic, became the most popular iPhone app on February 28, 2026.

Between 40 and 50 protesters attended a demonstration outside OpenAI's San Francisco office on March 3, 2026.

Protesters expressed grievances about AI's impact on climate, wealth inequality, and the erosion of human creativity.

WHERE:

OpenAI headquarters, Mission Bay, San Francisco, California

Sidewalk outside OpenAI’s San Francisco offices

WHEN:

Contract signed with the Pentagon on March 1, 2026

Protest occurred on March 3, 2026

Claude AI reached No. 1 in the App Store on February 28, 2026

Sam Altman posted an internal memo on March 2, 2026

All-hands gathering at OpenAI on March 3, 2026

WHY:

OpenAI aimed to support the U.S. government in AI competition against China.

Employees expressed frustration over the handling of the Pentagon negotiations and the perceived rush of the contract.

HOW:

OpenAI communicated contract terms and adjustments through public statements and social media.

Protesters used signs and chalk messages to express their discontent regarding the Pentagon deal and broader issues related to AI.

On March 1, OpenAI signed a contract with the Pentagon to utilize its AI models in classified systems, a move that has drawn criticism for being rushed and opportunistic. In response to concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, Anthropic rejected an update to its own Pentagon contract, while OpenAI announced adjustments on March 2 to include protections against the surveillance of U.S. persons. Meanwhile, a demonstration took place outside OpenAI's San Francisco office on March 3, where around 40 to 50 protesters voiced their concerns about AI's impact on climate, wealth inequality, and human creativity.