How AI Companies Got Caught Up in US Military Efforts (www.wired.com)

In a notable shift, major AI companies including OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic have begun collaborating with the U.S. military, signaling a significant pivot in the use of AI technologies for defense purposes. OpenAI, which recently lifted its prohibition against military applications, is reportedly working on various projects with the Pentagon. Concurrent announcements from Meta, which plans to offer its Llama models for defense applications, and Anthropic, which will collaborate with defense firm Palantir, illustrate a collective industry trend towards military partnerships. This shift culminated in Google altering its AI principles to permit the development of technologies that may inflict harm, highlighting how military applications have become normalized among leading AI firms. This trend is significant for the AI/ML community as it reflects a growing acceptance of military funding amid the financial pressures of developing complex AI models. As noted by economist David J. Teece, industries often thrive when linked to substantial and stable sectors like defense, which offers long-term contracts and less stringent success metrics. This evolution raises ethical concerns regarding the implications of AI technologies being used for military ends and signifies a broader geopolitical realignment in technological development, diverging from previous neoliberal ideals toward a more state-centric approach that intertwines tech development with national security concerns.