OpenAI is partnering with the US authorities to make its main frontier fashions accessible to federal workers. Beneath the settlement, federal businesses can entry OpenAI’s fashions for $1 for the following yr, per a Wednesday announcement from the corporate and the Normal Companies Administration (GSA).
The partnership is the fruits of months of effort on the a part of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and different OpenAI executives, who’ve been cozying as much as the Trump administration since earlier than President Donald Trump retook the White Home in January.
In a press release emailed to WIRED, Altman mentioned: “The most effective methods to ensure AI works for everybody is to place it within the fingers of the folks serving the nation. We’re proud to companion with the Normal Companies Administration, delivering on President Trump’s AI Motion Plan, to make ChatGPT accessible throughout the federal authorities, serving to public servants ship for the American folks.”
Since at the very least Might of this yr, high-ranking OpenAI workers have been assembly with the GSA and different authorities businesses, such because the Meals and Drug Administration, to advertise the corporate’s instruments, in line with paperwork obtained by WIRED.
On July 23, OpenAI chief working officer Brad Lightcap and different OpenAI executives have been invited to a personal after-party hosted by the Hill and Valley Discussion board in Washington, DC. Plenty of authorities workers concerned in varied AI coverage efforts, together with DOGE associates Akash Bobba and Edward Coristine, have been additionally on the invite checklist, per an invite obtained by WIRED.
It’s not recognized whether or not Lightcap attended the festivities. Alexandr Wang, the pinnacle of Meta Superintelligence Labs, and representatives from Palantir have been additionally invited.
On Tuesday, the GSA introduced that it was including three new AI fashions—Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT—to its federal buying checklist, opening the door for presidency businesses to make use of these instruments. The transfer was framed as furthering Trump’s AI Motion Plan, which referred to as for dashing up AI innovation within the US.
The identical day, OpenAI launched two open-weight fashions—the corporate’s first such launch since 2019. The fashions might be run regionally and customised for particular use instances, doubtlessly permitting OpenAI to companion with authorities businesses that require excessive ranges of information safety.
Beneath Elon Musk, the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) accelerated authorities AI efforts, together with by launching an AI chatbot referred to as GSAi. On the Division of Housing and City Improvement, a DOGE operative has been utilizing AI instruments to rewrite company rules.
The GSA didn’t reply on the report previous to publication.
American AI giants have proven a rising curiosity in working with the US authorities in current months. Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, the president introduced a serious new information middle infrastructure undertaking from OpenAI referred to as Stargate. Altman stood beside the president as he introduced the brand new enterprise on the White Home. In Might, Altman and different AI executives additionally accompanied Trump on a journey to the Center East, the place they introduced a variety of enterprise offers seemingly designed to additional US international coverage pursuits.
Authorities businesses have big portions of information which may doubtlessly be precious for AI corporations. (OpenAI says that ChatGPT won’t use interactions with federal workers as coaching information.) US authorities departments trying to modernize their operations might even see generative AI as a technique to improve techniques and enhance efficiencies. Companies just like the Division of Protection are big potential prospects too. Trump’s proposed funds for the Division of Protection for the 2026 fiscal yr is $1.01 trillion, a 13.4 p.c improve.
Replace 8/06/25 2:25pm ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate remark from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
