The recent Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans brought together an unexpected pair – Katrina Mulligan, who leads national security policy and partnerships at OpenAI, and Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth. Mulligan posted a photo on LinkedIn of the two enjoying the concert, stirring up controversy due to OpenAI’s recent shift towards landing government contracts. The company, valued at $157 billion, has been actively seeking military contracts after dropping a clause in its terms about banning applications for “military and warfare.” This move has raised concerns about the optics of a high-ranking government official socializing with a key advisor to a company vying for Pentagon contracts.
Despite attending the concert in her personal capacity, Wormuth’s close connection to Mulligan, whom she worked with at the Pentagon, has raised questions about her potential need to recuse herself from decision-making related to OpenAI contracts. As a vocal proponent of AI within the Pentagon, Wormuth’s relationship with OpenAI presents an ethical dilemma that may require her to distance herself from decisions involving the company. OpenAI has been actively pursuing military contracts and recently partnered with Carahsoft to sell its services to federal agencies, including the Pentagon, through contract vehicles like CHESS.
OpenAI’s efforts to build a military sales operation coincide with a government-focused hiring boom, including the appointment of former NSA director Paul Nakasone to its board and the recruitment of ex-White House officials and defense industry experts. Mulligan joined OpenAI around the same time it altered its usage terms to allow work with the Pentagon, leveraging her experience as a national security advisor to navigate the intersection of technology and government policy. Her close ties to Wormuth and OpenAI’s growing presence in the defense sector highlight the complexities of the relationship between tech companies and the military.
While the Secretary of the Army’s personal friendship with Mulligan predates her role at OpenAI, the optics of their public association raise concerns about conflicts of interest and ethical considerations. As OpenAI continues to pursue military contracts and expand its government sales operation, the close ties between its employees and government officials spotlight the challenges of balancing national security priorities with advancements in AI technology. The evolution of OpenAI’s relationship with the Pentagon underscores the broader debate surrounding the role of tech companies in defense and the ethical implications of close collaborations between industry and government.
