Driscoll’s role at OpenAI
Driscoll has taken a newly created position as senior adviser for national security modernization. According to The Wall Street Journal, the appointment is intended to help OpenAI build closer ties with the military, increase its share of government contracts, and take part in discussions about rules for the armed forces and intelligence agencies to use AI.
OpenAI said Driscoll will work with governments, businesses, academia, and US allies. His role is to help strengthen national security and cyber defense with AI. He will also help OpenAI teams better understand the practical needs of security agencies.
Driscoll said national security requirements are changing faster than at any point in the past 50 years. In his view, AI can reduce the burden on bureaucratic organizations, process more intelligence data, and get responses to the right specialists faster.
Army experience and ties in Congress
As the 26th US Army secretary, Driscoll was responsible for nearly one million service members and more than 265,000 civilian employees. He led the Army’s modernization with AI, including the ARIA project. The initiative introduced AI tools for budgeting, logistics, and the deployment of tactical models. The experience gave Driscoll a practical understanding of AI procurement for military needs.
In late August 2026, he resigned. Media reports said this followed months of strained relations with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who repeatedly dismissed senior officers or blocked their promotions over Driscoll’s objections.
Driscoll could also help OpenAI build ties on Capitol Hill. According to AP, he is close to Vice President JD Vance and has maintained relationships with members of both parties in Congress. That network could prove useful if the balance of power shifts after the current midterm elections.
Pentagon contract after decision against Anthropic
In late February 2026, the Pentagon designated Anthropic a supply chain risk. This came after the company’s CEO, Dario Amodei, refused to remove contractual restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
That same day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced an agreement with the Pentagon: the company’s models would operate on classified networks. Altman said the deal included safeguards similar to those Anthropic had advocated.
Dataist’s take: The appointment links OpenAI’s defense ambitions to Driscoll’s Army experience and bipartisan connections. But access to officials and a previous contract do not, on their own, show what share of future government procurement the company will win.
Daily AI news
Every day we pick what actually matters in AI and explain it plainly — no hype, no filler. Subscribe if you want to follow where the industry is going.
Only what matters — every day
Follow on X