OpenAI hires former defense secretary Mark Esper to expand military AI efforts

The ChatGPT maker brings a former Pentagon chief aboard as its defense business moves from experiment to strategy OpenAI has hired Mark Esper, the former US Secretary of Defense, to help expand its military AI work. The appointment was announced on November 2, 2026, and Esper is described as a strategic advisor for the company’s military AI initiatives. A few years ago, OpenAI’s usage policies barred military and warfare applications outright. Now the company has a former Pentagon chief on its roster. What OpenAI is building with the Pentagon On February 9, 2026, the company announced that ChatGPT would become available on GenAI.mil, the military’s generative AI platform. The custom version is set to serve up to 3 million users. Then, on February 27, 2026, OpenAI signed an agreement with the Department of Defense to deploy its AI models in classified environments. The agreement also reportedly draws lines. It sets boundaries against mass domestic surveillance and against the use of autonomous weapons. On top of that, OpenAI has gathered unclassified defense contracts valued at up to $200 million. From prohibition to partnership The pivot started in 2024, when OpenAI removed the pro...