The US Department of Defense has secured access to GPT-4, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft. The technology will enable the government to utilize text strings called Embeddings to improve search and recommendation features, while also providing access to GPT-3 and GPT-4. Azure Government offers a secure encrypted network that does not connect to either the public internet or Microsoft’s corporate network, ensuring all confidential information remains protected.
The announcement follows OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s testimony to Congress, where he called for the creation of a regulatory agency to monitor AI companies and suggested requiring organizations to obtain licenses before releasing new AI models. Some AI researchers see this as an anti-competitive tactic that would create significant barriers to entry for smaller companies without sufficient resources. Other experts speculate that Altman is hoping to gain an advantage by aligning himself with the government. Currently, Microsoft is the main corporate partner of OpenAI.
The joint venture between Microsoft and the US Department of Defense could lead to groundbreaking advancements, as GPT-4 is already viewed as a major breakthrough in the field of natural language processing. However, the partnership could also ruffle feathers, as the use of AI in security and military applications remains controversial. Additionally, many tech executives and academics view Altman’s testimony as an attempt to stifle competition in the AI industry, with the creation of a regulatory agency potentially granting established players like OpenAI and Microsoft a significant advantage over their competitors. As AI continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the broader tech industry.
