OpenAI Partners with U.S. National Labs on Nuclear AI

OpenAI is expanding its partnership with the U.S. government by providing advanced AI models to scientists at the country's National Laboratories. The move, announced Thursday, will give approximately 15,000 researchers access to OpenAI's latest frontier models, deployed in collaboration with Microsoft on Venado, a high-performance supercomputer at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

AI for National Security and Scientific Advancement

Scientists at Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Sandia National Labs will leverage OpenAI’s technology for critical research in cybersecurity, healthcare, and physics. The AI models are expected to help safeguard the national power grid from cyber threats, discover new treatments for diseases, and deepen understanding of fundamental physics.

Perhaps most notably, OpenAI's AI models will be used in work related to nuclear security. The company says its technology will support initiatives aimed at reducing nuclear war risks and securing nuclear materials and weapons worldwide. OpenAI researchers with security clearance will oversee these applications to ensure AI safety and ethical considerations.

"OpenAI’s collaboration with the US National Labs builds on the long-standing tradition of the US government collaborating with private industry to ensure that technological innovation leads to meaningful improvements in healthcare, energy, and other critical fields," the company stated.

Growing Influence in Federal AI Adoption

This partnership extends OpenAI’s presence in government operations. Even before this announcement, Los Alamos National Laboratory had been exploring ways to integrate AI into bioscientific research. On a broader scale, government employees at 3,500 agencies have exchanged more than 18 million messages with ChatGPT since 2024.

OpenAI’s Political and Strategic Positioning

OpenAI’s recent moves indicate an effort to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Last week, the company announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative in partnership with SoftBank, and CEO Sam Altman previously contributed $1 million to President Trump’s inauguration.

By embedding its AI technology into federal research and security programs, OpenAI is positioning itself as a key player in national policy and defense. Whether this deepening collaboration is purely strategic or driven by a broader mission remains to be seen, but it’s clear that OpenAI is increasingly entwining itself with the U.S. government’s technological future.