Cancel ChatGPT movement grows after OpenAI agrees to provide models to US military
Feb 28th 2026
OpenAI’s deal to make its models available to the US military prompted immediate industry splits and an online cancellation movement after Anthropic declined similar terms over surveillance and weapons concerns.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company will make its models available to the US Department of Defense, according to his post on X.
- Anthropic refused Pentagon work, citing concerns about surveillance and autonomous weapons, and framed its stance as a red line.
- A US official said OpenAI models could be used for all lawful purposes, a phrase critics warn could include some forms of surveillance.
- Online backlash spiked with thousands of users on Reddit and other platforms saying they will cancel ChatGPT subscriptions.
- OpenAI recently closed a funding round valuing the company at roughly $730 billion with investors including Amazon, SoftBank and NVIDIA.
- Several large tech firms have relaxed or avoided explicit bans on military uses of AI, leaving few vendors that refuse Pentagon contracts.