Objecting to OpenAI’s hurried deal with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) over the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classified military networks, Caitlin Kalinowski, a senior hardware leader at OpenAI, announced her resignation on Saturday.
Citing concerns about the company’s agreement with the Pentagon, Kalinowski said in a post on X that the company moved too quickly in finalizing the deal without establishing sufficient safeguards. She added that while AI can play an important role in national security, certain ethical boundaries require careful consideration.
“AI has an important role in national security,” Kalinowski wrote. “But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got.”
I resigned from OpenAI. I care deeply about the Robotics team and the work we built together. This wasn’t an easy call. AI has an important role in national security. But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are…
— Caitlin Kalinowski (@kalinowski007) March 7, 2026
She described her decision to step down as one rooted in principle rather than conflict with colleagues. Kalinowski also expressed respect for Sam Altman and the broader OpenAI team, saying she remained proud of the work accomplished during her time at the company.
“This wasn’t an easy call,” she wrote. “I care deeply about the robotics team and the work we built together. This was about principle, not people.”
Kalinowski joined OpenAI in 2024 after leading augmented reality hardware development at Meta Platforms.
At OpenAI, she was responsible for overseeing hardware development and robotics initiatives. OpenAI responded by reiterating that its policies prohibit the use of its technology for domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.
The company said the defense agreement includes additional safeguards designed to protect how its AI models are used.“ We recognize that people have strong views about these issues and we will continue to engage in discussions with employees, government, civil society and communities around the world,” the company said in a statement.
After her resignation, debate can be seen over the role of artificial intelligence in national security application.
