OpenAI hires former US Army secretary Dan Driscoll as adviser

In short: OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, a former US Army secretary, to advise the company on national security modernisation.

What happened

OpenAI has brought on Dan Driscoll as a senior counsellor for national security modernisation, according to the Financial Times. Driscoll previously served as the US Army secretary, a civilian leadership role that oversees the Army.

The move comes as the US military looks to use more AI, which is software that can spot patterns and produce text, images, or recommendations (like an autopilot for information). In this role, Driscoll is expected to advise on how AI tools could fit into national security work and how to update older processes.

OpenAI is best known for ChatGPT, a chatbot that can answer questions in plain language. In recent years, more AI companies have hired people with government and defense backgrounds, as public agencies explore where AI can help and where it could create new risks.

Why it matters

When AI moves into military and national security settings, the stakes are higher than in everyday consumer apps. Decisions can affect safety, privacy, and public trust, so who advises AI companies, and what rules guide that work, can shape how these tools are used.

Source: Financial Times