OpenAI Reportedly Hires Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper to Advance Military AI Business
OpenAI has reportedly hired Mark Esper, former defense secretary during the Trump administration, to help expand its military AI work. Esper led the U.S. Army from 2017 to 2019, then headed the Pentagon until he was dismissed in November 2020, and previously spent 7 years in charge of government relations at Raytheon. During his tenure as defense secretary, he supported the Pentagon's early AI ethics projects.
Why read this
AI score 55
The original article outlines the former defense secretary's military and Raytheon background, which can be used to understand the personnel arrangements for OpenAI's military AI business.
Topics
Body
OpenAI has reportedly hired Mark Esper, Donald Trump’s former defense secretary, to help expand its military AI work.
He ran the Army from 2017 to 2019, then led the whole Pentagon until he was fired in November 2020.
Before that, he spent 7 years running government relations at Raytheon, so he knows weapons buying from both sides.
As defense secretary, he also backed the Pentagon’s early AI ethics programs, which gives him standing on the limits OpenAI says it enforces.