Update
OpenAI Hires Former Defense Secretary for Military AI Expansion
OpenAI has hired Mark Esper, the former US Secretary of Defense, to expand its military AI efforts. The appointment was announced on November 2, 2026, and Esper is described as a strategic advisor for the company's military AI initiatives. OpenAI's policies previously barred military and warfare applications, but the company now has a former Pentagon chief on its roster. The company has also signed an agreement with the Department of Defense to deploy its AI models in classified environments, setting boundaries against mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons.