OpenAI Head of Robotics Quits After Cutting Deal with Pentagon

Caitlin Kalinowski, head of robotics and consumer hardware at OpenAI, has announced her resignation, citing concerns about the company’s agreement with the Department of Defense, Karen Brettell reported for Reuters.

Kalinowski wrote on X that while she has “deep respect” for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the team, the company announced the Pentagon deal “without the guardrails defined.” (Photo: Caitlin Kalinowski)

In a social media post on X, Kalinowski wrote that OpenAI did not take enough time before agreeing to deploy its AI models on the Pentagon’s classified cloud networks.

“AI has an important role in national security,” Kalinowski posted.

“But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got.”

Kalinowski wrote on X that while she has “deep respect” for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the team, the company announced the Pentagon deal “without the guardrails defined.”

“It’s a governance concern first and foremost,” she wrote in a subsequent post.

“These are too important for deals or announcements to be rushed.” OpenAI said the day after the deal was struck that it includes additional safeguards to protect its use cases.

The company has reiterated that its “red lines” preclude the use of its technology in domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons.