OpenAI collaborates with government contractors to enter the defense contract market

ChainCatcher news, according to Forbes, OpenAI is seeking a closer partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. OpenAI has partnered with government contractor Carahsoft, a billionaire-owned company that helps tech companies provide software to the Pentagon.

Earlier this year, OpenAI quietly removed from its usage policy the clause prohibiting its products from being used for "military and war". Subsequently, the company was added to a defense contract tool called "Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions" (CHESS). CHESS is a method used by the U.S. government to purchase services quickly and with low administrative burden from private companies.

Although OpenAI has not yet signed contracts with the Department of Defense through this channel, Carahsoft has helped it secure other government contracts. Over the past year, Carahsoft sold $108k worth of ChatGPT licenses to NASA and over $70k worth of unspecified OpenAI licenses to National Gallery.