OpenAI, defence tech firm Anduril team up to build AI for anti-drone systems

The partnership comes at a pivotal period in the accelerating race between the US and China to dominate AI for military purposes

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The OpenAI-Anduril partnership is expected to help address “urgent” gaps in air-defence capabilities around the world. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:27pm, 5 Dec 2024

OpenAI is partnering with Anduril Industries to incorporate its artificial intelligence (AI) technology into the weapons maker’s anti-drone systems, marking the ChatGPT creator’s most significant push yet into the defence sector.

Anduril will lean on OpenAI’s technology to better detect and respond to unmanned “aerial threats”, largely drones, which have become a central part of modern warfare, the two companies said on Wednesday. OpenAI will also use Anduril data to train its software for these defence systems.

In recent months, OpenAI has been seeking to expand its partnerships with the US government around national security, saying that it wants to support the public sector in adopting AI that upholds democratic values.

OpenAI partnered with the US Air Force Research Laboratory to adopt its ChatGPT enterprise tools for administrative use. The company also hired a former top Pentagon official to lead its national security policy team and added the former head of the National Security Agency to its board.

“Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects US military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free,” OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said in a statement.

The arrangement comes at what the two companies describe as a “pivotal moment” in the accelerating race between the US and China to dominate AI for military purposes.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says the partnership with Anduril Industries will help ensure the protection of US military personnel. Photo: Shutterstock