OpenAI Accepts Broad “Any Lawful Use” Language in Expanded DoD Agreement
Narrative
OpenAI announced an expanded agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that includes acceptance of “any lawful use” language, covering applications permitted under U.S. law.
Reality
The agreement extends prior pilot programs and retains OpenAI oversight through tiered access controls. The language broadens permissible use within legal boundaries rather than introducing a new product line.
Implication
Acceptance of open-ended lawful-use language formalizes defense-aligned deployment norms and shifts frontier lab positioning from principle-based restriction toward contract-defined compliance.