OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has quietly removed language from its usage policy that explicitly prohibited the use of its artificial intelligence technology for military purposes. The previous policy included a ban on any activity involving high risk of physical harm, including 'weapons development' and 'military and warfare', which ruled out use by defence departments or state militaries.
The updated policy retains an injunction not to 'use our service to harm yourself or others' and still cites developing or using weapons as an example, but the specific prohibition on 'military and warfare' has been removed. The change was first reported by The Intercept.
OpenAI said the revision is part of a broader rewrite aimed at making the policy more readable. In a blog post, the company stated: 'We've updated our usage policies to be more readable and added service-specific guidance.' The new version emphasises flexibility, noting that users should comply with the law and avoid harming themselves or others.
The real-world implications of the policy shift remain unclear. However, Sarah Meyers, managing director of the AI Now Institute, commented on X: 'Given the use of AI systems in the targeting of civilians in Gaza, it’s a notable moment to make the decision to remove the words “military and warfare” from OpenAI’s permissible use policy.'
OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously co-authored studies warning of risks from using large language models for warfare, and research has shown that AI tools can be tricked into generating malicious code for cyber attacks.
