OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies

OpenAI has unveiled ChatGPT Gov, its biggest product launch since the enterprise rollout, targeting U.S. government agencies. The announcement comes amid growing buzz around DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough.

The new platform, announced Tuesday, marks OpenAI’s biggest product launch since rolling out its enterprise tools. Built specifically for government agencies, ChatGPT Gov allows them to input non-public, sensitive information into OpenAI’s models while maintaining control over their hosting environments. When it comes to security, OpenAI said that ChatGPT Gov is “a step beyond ChatGPT Enterprise.”

“It allows government agencies to use OpenAI’s models with non-public, sensitive information while operating within their own secure hosting environments,” CNBC reported, citing OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil’s statement during a briefing on Monday.

Government use of ChatGPT isn’t entirely new. Since the start of 2024, more than 90,000 federal, state, and local government employees have used ChatGPT to generate over 18 million prompts. Common use cases include translating and summarizing documents, drafting policy memos, coding, and building applications.

How ChatGPT Gov Works

On the surface, ChatGPT Gov resembles ChatGPT Enterprise. The difference lies in how it’s deployed. Government agencies will host it within Microsoft Azure’s commercial or government cloud platforms, enabling them to meet their specific security, privacy, and compliance needs. Felipe Millon, OpenAI’s federal sales and go-to-market lead, explained that this setup gives agencies the ability to manage their own data more securely.

A live demo showcased how ChatGPT Gov could streamline tasks for government employees. One example featured an incoming Trump administration staffer using the platform to create a detailed five-week job plan, analyze a photo of a printed version with handwritten notes, and draft a memo summarizing it—all within minutes. The memo was then translated into multiple languages.

Challenges and Scrutiny

AI’s use in government hasn’t been without criticism. Concerns over potential misuse, particularly regarding data privacy and bias, have sparked debate. Police use of AI has led to wrongful arrests, and California voters recently rejected a plan to replace the state’s bail system with algorithms over fears of amplifying existing biases.

Acknowledging these challenges, OpenAI has emphasized that ChatGPT Gov adheres to its usage policies. The platform is currently undergoing FedRAMP accreditation, which Weil described as a lengthy process.

Timelines and Key Users

Despite these hurdles, OpenAI expects ChatGPT Gov to be available soon, with live testing potentially beginning within a month. Millon believes agencies handling sensitive data—like defense, law enforcement, and healthcare—stand to benefit the most from the platform.

Ties to the Trump Administration

Weil also noted that President Trump’s administration has expressed interest in accelerating FedRAMP processes to speed up the adoption of modern software tools in government. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who attended Trump’s inauguration, recently voiced his optimism about the administration. On X (formerly Twitter), Altman said watching Trump “more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him,” calling him “incredible for the country in many ways.”

Altman’s statements have not gone unnoticed. A letter from U.S. senators raised concerns that OpenAI might be attempting to “cozy up to the incoming Trump administration” to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

The AI Race with China

The announcement of ChatGPT Gov comes amid intense competition in AI, both domestically and globally. Referring to the recent developments with China’s DeepSeek, Weil stated, “This underscores how important it is that the U.S. wins this race.” He added that OpenAI remains committed to moving quickly to stay ahead in the global AI market.

As OpenAI doubles down on government-focused AI, the launch of ChatGPT Gov could mark a pivotal moment in how the public sector adopts advanced technologies to improve operations and efficiency. Whether this new platform addresses longstanding concerns or amplifies them remains to be seen.