OpenAI Robotics Head Quits Over Pentagon Partnership

OpenAI’s robotics lead has left the company due to its partnership with the Pentagon.

Caitlin Kalinowski announced her departure from the artificial intelligence startup in a post on the social media platform X Saturday (March 7).

The head of OpenAI’s robotics team resigned Saturday, citing the company’s deal to deploy its AI models within the Pentagon’s classified network as the cause.

“This wasn’t an easy call. AI has an important role in national security,” Kalinowski wrote. “But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got. This was about principle, not people.”

A report by Bloomberg News says that OpenAI confirmed Kalinowski’s resignation and argues the company’s Defense Department agreement “creates a workable path for responsible national security uses of AI while making clear our red lines, no domestic surveillance and no autonomous weapons.”

“We recognize that people have strong views about these issues and we will continue to engage in discussion with employees, government, civil society and communities around the world,” the company added.

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OpenAI and the Pentagon formed their partnership late last month after a breakdown in negotiations between the White House and rival AI company Anthropic.

Anthropic had wanted the Pentagon to agree that its technology wouldn’t be used for mass surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous weapons. President Donald Trump responded by ordering government departments to cease their work with Anthropic.

The Pentagon also labeled the startup a supply-chain risk, meaning any companies wanting to do business with the U.S. government would be forbidden from…

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