OpenAI partners with defense tech startup Anduril for AI-powered anti-drone systems for national security

Just four months after securing $1.5 billion in funding at a $14 billion valuation, defense tech startup Anduril announced a new partnership with OpenAI to bring advanced AI solutions to national security efforts.

The collaboration, revealed Wednesday, allows Anduril to integrate OpenAI’s models into its defense systems, focusing on enhancing counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) to protect U.S. and allied military personnel from drone attacks and improve real-time decision-making.

On Wednesday, the two companies said their collaboration will integrate OpenAI’s models with Anduril’s defense systems to enhance “national security missions.” The partnership also aims to protect U.S. and allied military personnel from unmanned drone attacks and improve decision-making in real-time.

“We’re joining forces with @OpenAI to advance AI solutions for national security. America needs to win. OpenAI’s models combined with Anduril’s defense systems will protect U.S. and allied military personnel from attacks by unmanned drones and improve real-time decision-making,” Anduril said in a post on X.

A Controversial Shift in AI for Defense

This partnership highlights a growing trend of AI companies revisiting earlier stances against military use of their technologies. OpenAI and Anduril join a wave of collaborations between tech startups and defense contractors, a space that has sparked debates about ethical AI deployment.

“Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT and frontier AI models, are proud to announce a strategic partnership to develop and responsibly deploy advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for national security missions. By bringing together OpenAI’s advanced models with Anduril’s high-performance defense systems and Lattice software platform, the partnership aims to improve the nation’s defense systems that protect U.S. and allied military personnel from attacks by unmanned drones and other aerial devices,” Anduril stated in a news release.

“Anduril builds defense solutions that meet urgent operational needs for the U.S. and allied militaries,” said Brian Schimpf, co-founder & CEO of Anduril Industries. “Our partnership with OpenAI will allow us to utilize their world-class expertise in artificial intelligence to address urgent Air Defense capability gaps across the world. Together, we are committed to developing responsible solutions that enable military and intelligence operators to make faster, more accurate decisions in high-pressure situations.”

“OpenAI builds AI to benefit as many people as possible, and supports U.S.-led efforts to ensure the technology upholds democratic values,” said Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO. “Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects U.S. military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free.”

Next-Generation Defense Technology

Founded in 2017, Anduril specializes in military and border surveillance technology, aiming to support frontline defense with cutting-edge tools. Co-founder Palmer Luckey, who also created Oculus VR, has been a vocal figure in both tech innovation and political circles, having left Facebook in the wake of controversies surrounding his support for then-President Donald Trump.

This partnership builds on Anduril’s existing mission to provide high-performance solutions to defense agencies. OpenAI’s collaboration focuses on synthesizing real-time data to enhance situational awareness and reduce the burden on human operators during high-stakes scenarios.

Evolving Policies and AI Ethics

OpenAI’s involvement comes as the company has quietly revised its policies around military use. Earlier this year, OpenAI removed explicit bans on using its models for military purposes, though its guidelines still prohibit activities intended to cause harm. The company emphasized that this partnership aims to aid human decision-making and safeguard military personnel from unmanned drone threats.

The shift mirrors similar moves across the tech industry. Last month, Anthropic partnered with Palantir and Amazon Web Services to provide defense and intelligence agencies access to its AI models. Palantir also expanded its Maven AI program under a new $100 million contract with the U.S. military.

Industry Pushback on Defense AI

The integration of AI into defense operations has been a divisive topic within the tech world. Google’s Project Maven drew widespread protests from employees who raised ethical concerns about AI-driven warfare. Similar objections surfaced at Microsoft, where workers opposed a $480 million contract to supply augmented-reality headsets to the U.S. Army. Amazon and Google also faced backlash over a $1.2 billion joint contract with the Israeli military.

While OpenAI and Anduril focus on advancing national security, the ethical implications of AI in defense remain a hot-button issue, with the balance between innovation and responsible deployment under intense scrutiny.

Anduril Drone