The US Department of Defense has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to implement generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the army, AFP reported.

San Francisco-based OpenAI will "develop prototype AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both the military and enterprise domains," according to the department's contract award announcement.

The program with the Department of Defense is the first partnership under the startup's initiative to implement AI in government, according to OpenAI.

OpenAI plans to demonstrate how state-of-the-art AI can significantly improve administrative operations, such as how military personnel receive health care, as well as cyber defense, according to a publication by the startup.

Any use of AI for military purposes will be in line with OpenAI's guidelines for use, according to the startup.

Big tech companies are increasingly offering their tools to the US military, including Meta, OpenAI, and, more predictably, Palantir, the defense AI company founded by Peter Thiel, the conservative tech billionaire who played an important role in Silicon Valley's rightward shift.

OpenAI and defense tech startup Anduril Industries announced late last year a partnership to develop and deploy artificial intelligence solutions "for security missions."

The alliance combines OpenAI's models and Anduril's military technology platform to strengthen defenses against drones and other "unmanned aerial systems," according to the companies.

"OpenAI is creating artificial intelligence to benefit as many people as possible, and supports the US's efforts to ensure that the technology upholds democratic values," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said at the time. |BGNES