U.S. department of defense seeks AI with minimal rejection rate from OpenAI

The U.S. Department of Defense has been accused of requesting a customized version of OpenAI's AI technology designed to minimize the rejection of military commands. This demand emerged from a FOIA lawsuit, which revealed a contract labeled 'P00003' that aimed to expand the military use of AI for logistics, intelligence, and warfare. The contract, signed in February 2026, was part of a broader agreement between OpenAI and the Pentagon, with a two-year term and a potential value of up to $200 million. OpenAI and the Pentagon denied the inclusion of a 'minimum rejection rate' clause, claiming the document was a draft. Legal experts and OpenAI’s spokesperson, Nate Evans, emphasized that the final contract did not contain this provision. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over the ethical use of AI in military contexts, with similar disputes involving Anthropic and the Trump administration.