Skyward Wildfire: stop lightning, OpenAI Pentagon pact
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- Skyward Wildfire is developing a method to prevent lightning strikes, possibly using metallic chaff cloud seeding, a technique evaluated by the US government in the 1960s.
- Researchers and environmental observers express concerns about Skyward Wildfire's approach, citing uncertainties regarding its effectiveness, material requirements, frequency of application, and potential environmental impacts.
- OpenAI has agreed to allow the US military to use its technology in classified settings, a deal CEO Sam Altman admits was "rushed" following the Pentagon's public reprimand of Anthropic.
- OpenAI's blog post and Sam Altman assert that the agreement includes safeguards against use for autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance, distinguishing it from the terms Anthropic reportedly refused.
- The US military is rapidly advancing a politicized AI strategy amidst ongoing strikes on Iran, raising questions about OpenAI's ability to implement promised safety precautions effectively.
- Apple is reportedly considering integrating Google's Gemini AI into Siri and deepening its reliance on Google's cloud infrastructure.
Why it matters: These deals highlight the ethical tightrope tech companies walk between innovation, profit, and military applications.
