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Openai V-MIL

MILITARY AUDIT UPDATED 2026-05-20
V-MIL Score 0.16 /10 C Openai — BDS-1000 448
V-MIL 0.16

Evidence-only forensic audit. Scoring happens downstream — see the main dossier for the composite assessment.

V-MIL Audit: OpenAI, Inc. / OpenAI Global, LLC / OpenAI Public Sector LLC

Audit Domain: V-MIL — Military & Defence Supply Chain Audit Audit Phase: Final Audit Report Date of Report: Based on research through September 2025

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

OpenAI Public Sector LLC, a legal entity registered in December 2024 and activated in the System for Award Management (SAM) in January 2025, holds a $200 million ceiling contract with the United States Department of Defense for “frontier AI capabilities” in warfighting and enterprise domains through July 2026 12. The contract is structured to cover AI capabilities with direct application to national security and defence missions 2.

Microsoft maintains a confirmed approximately $133 million contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defence (IMOD) to provide Azure cloud services and engineering consultancy, running from at least October 2023 through June 2024 3. Within this arrangement, a Guardian investigation confirmed an approximately $10 million engineering consultancy contract specifically for Azure services to IMOD 4. OpenAI’s GPT-4 model was consumed by the Israeli military through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service 45. At one stage in 2024, OpenAI’s tools accounted for approximately one-quarter of the Israeli military’s machine learning tool consumption on the Azure platform 45.

Internal IMOD commercial records and internal Microsoft data reviewed by AP News and The Guardian showed Azure AI usage by the Israeli military increased approximately sevenfold in the first month of the Gaza war and approximately 64-fold by March 2024 compared to the pre-war baseline in September 2023 435. Col. Racheli Dembinsky, commander of the IDF’s MAMRAM unit (Computer Services Directorate), publicly stated that cloud providers gave the IDF “very significant operational effectiveness” during the Gaza ground invasion, with Azure logos appearing alongside AWS and Google Cloud in her official presentation slides 4. IMOD tender documentation confirms that Israeli telecom Cellcom (Partner Communications) was selected to manage the Azure-based military cloud platform, including Microsoft 365 services, with the tender predating October 2023 6.

OpenAI has stated publicly that it does “not have a partnership with the IDF” 4. All confirmed access by the Israeli military to OpenAI models is mediated through Microsoft’s Azure platform rather than through a direct contractual relationship 45. No public evidence identifies a direct contract, tender award, or memorandum of understanding between OpenAI and the Israeli Ministry of Defence, IDF, Israel Prison Service, or Israel Border Police 435.

Sam Altman, OpenAI’s controlling principal and CEO, visited Israel in June 2023 and met with President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating that Israel would have a “huge role” in AI development 7. Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army General and former NSA Director (2018–2024), was appointed to OpenAI’s Board of Directors in June 2024 and joins the Safety and Security Committee 8. Joseph Larson was hired by OpenAI as “head of government” in 2025; he is a former executive at Anduril Industries and formerly served as deputy chief digital and AI officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense 9.

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

Microsoft began in May 2024 to market Azure OpenAI Service as a “powerful tool” offering a “paradigm shift” for military and intelligence applications, according to documentation published by the American Friends Service Committee 5. Multiple journalistic investigations confirmed that GPT-4 was consumed within the Israeli military’s AI-assisted targeting pipeline, including the Lavender system (an AI targeting system for air strikes) and The Gospel system (an AI system generating bombing targets at scale) 435. The “Where’s Daddy?” system, used for tracking and striking individuals, was also documented as part of this targeting infrastructure 45.

The IDF’s “Rolling Stone” system — a population and movement registry for the West Bank and Gaza — is maintained on Microsoft Azure infrastructure 6. The Israeli Civil Administration’s “Al Munaseq” app, used for Palestinian movement permit management, runs on Microsoft Azure 6. No public evidence confirms that the Al Munaseq app specifically consumes OpenAI models as opposed to other Azure services 6.

No public evidence identifies a purpose-built, mil-spec, or ruggedised variant of OpenAI products marketed specifically to Israeli security forces 5. OpenAI’s products are accessed by Israeli military end-users exclusively through Microsoft’s commercial Azure cloud platform rather than through any dedicated defence product line 45.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

Microsoft Azure hosts the “Rolling Stone” system used for population and movement registry in the West Bank and Gaza 6. Microsoft Azure also hosts the “Al Munaseq” app used for Palestinian movement permit administration in occupied territories 6. These systems support Israeli administrative functions in occupied territories that are integral to settlement and control infrastructure, though whether OpenAI models are specifically consumed by these systems is not publicly confirmed 6.

No public evidence confirms OpenAI products or infrastructure specifically deployed within West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Golan Heights settlements 610. OpenAI does not appear in the UN OHCHR settlement enterprise database (September 2025 iteration, 158 companies) 10.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

An investigation by the American Friends Service Committee confirmed that Microsoft Azure is used to run Elbit Systems’ OneSim military simulation software at IDF training centers 5. This places Azure — and by extension, Azure OpenAI Service — in a direct operational integration with Israeli defence prime Elbit Systems’ training infrastructure 5.

No public evidence confirms direct procurement contracts between OpenAI and named Israeli defence primes including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, or IMI Systems/Elbit Land 56. All confirmed relationships between OpenAI technology and Israeli defence primes are mediated through Microsoft’s Azure platform rather than through direct OpenAI contracting 56.

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

Cellcom (Partner Communications) was selected via IMOD tender in April 2023 to manage Azure-based military cloud platform services for the Israeli military, including Microsoft 365 services 6. This arrangement predates the confirmed commencement of increased Azure AI consumption by the IDF and positions Cellcom as a telecommunications intermediary in the Israeli military’s cloud infrastructure chain 6.

No public evidence confirms OpenAI or Microsoft contracts specifically for catering, transport, fuel, waste management, or other sustainment services to named IDF bases or installations within the West Bank, Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, or the Negev 6.

No public evidence identified of OpenAI or Microsoft shipping, freight forwarding, or port handling contracts specifically servicing Israeli defence logistics 6.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

Multiple journalistic investigations confirmed that GPT-4 was used via Azure as part of the Israeli military’s AI-assisted targeting infrastructure 435. Systems documented as part of this targeting pipeline include Lavender (AI targeting system for air strikes), The Gospel (AI system generating bombing targets at scale), and Where’s Daddy? (system for tracking and striking individuals) 435.

Microsoft confirmed in September 2025 that its review found evidence of IMOD consumption of Azure services for mass surveillance of Gaza and West Bank phone calls by IDF Unit 8200 11. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, stated that Microsoft “ceased and disabled specified IMOD subscriptions and their services, including their use of specific cloud storage and AI services and technologies” following this review 11. Whether GPT-4 specifically — versus other Azure AI services — was used in the Unit 8200 surveillance architecture is not publicly confirmed 115.

The IDF’s Ofek unit, which manages the air force target bank (a database of potential strike targets), uses Microsoft Azure infrastructure according to the American Friends Service Committee investigation 5.

No public evidence confirms OpenAI as prime contractor or licensed manufacturer for small arms, artillery, armoured vehicles, tactical drones, naval vessels, or other lethal weapons platforms 5.

No public evidence confirms OpenAI’s involvement in Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow missile defence systems, fighter aircraft, main battle tanks, warships, or ballistic missile systems 5.

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

Job postings confirm that OpenAI employs a Senior Manager of Export Controls, indicating the existence of an internal export compliance programme 12. This function suggests awareness within OpenAI of export control obligations applicable to its technology distribution 12.

No specific export licence applications, approvals, denials, or end-user certificates for OpenAI products to Israeli military or security end-users were identified in publicly available Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) or State Department records 12.

No investigations, citations, or enforcement actions related to arms embargoes, export control regimes, or sanctions affecting OpenAI’s defence trade with Israel were identified in public records 12.

No court proceedings, judicial reviews, or legal challenges specifically naming OpenAI in connection with Israeli defence supply were identified in public records 12.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) published a detailed dossier documenting Microsoft’s Azure platform hosting of Israeli military AI systems, including confirmed consumption of OpenAI’s GPT-4 by the IDF 5. The investigation specifically addresses the Azure–OpenAI relationship and the flow of OpenAI models into military targeting applications 5.

Who Profits Research Group lists Microsoft — not OpenAI directly — as a company involved in Israeli military and settlement activity, documenting Azure hosting of Israeli military targeting systems and the Al Munaseq app 6. OpenAI does not appear as a separate entry in the Who Profits database 6.

The UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s report (A/HRC/59/23, July 2025), titled “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide,” documents Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon providing cloud and AI services to the Israeli military in paragraphs 6 and 35–39 13. OpenAI is not separately named in the report 13. The report focuses on corporate complicity in the broader economy of occupation, with specific attention to cloud and AI infrastructure providers 13.

OpenAI disrupted and removed an influence operation run by Tel Aviv-based firm Stoic that used OpenAI models to generate pro-Israel content targeting audiences in the United States, Canada, and Israel 1415. OpenAI removed the operation in May 2024 1415. This activity — designated internally as “Zero Zeno” — represents a confirmed use of OpenAI’s models for a state-linked influence operation, distinct from kinetic military targeting applications 1415.

OpenAI deleted language expressly prohibiting “military and warfare” use from its usage policy in January 2024 4512. This policy change coincided with the period of increased Israeli military consumption of GPT-4 via Azure 45.

Fortune reported in February 2025 that “OpenAI did not respond to the allegations” regarding its technology’s role in Israeli military targeting 12. No public statements, policy changes, or customer contract terminations specifically addressing civil society findings regarding Israeli military use were identified in public records 12.

The UN OHCHR Settlement Enterprise Database (September 2025 iteration, 158 companies) does not include OpenAI 10. Microsoft and Google appear in the database; OpenAI does not 10.

Internal Microsoft data reviewed by AP and Guardian shows Azure AI consumption by the Israeli military remained elevated through at least early 2025 following the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court proceedings 435. No documented OpenAI contract termination, policy reversal, or customer exit specific to Israeli military end-users was identified in public records 435.

OpenAI published National Security Partnership Guidelines in October 2024 establishing three “red lines”: no use for mass domestic surveillance, autonomous weapons systems, or high-stakes automated decisions 2. The guidelines do not explicitly address whether Israeli or allied military end-users fall within or outside the scope of these commitments 2.

End Notes

Footnotes

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/16/openai-warns-200-million-us-defense-contract.html ↩

  2. https://openai.com/global-affairs/openais-approach-to-ai-and-national-security ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-ai-weapons-430f6f15aab420806163558732726ad9 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/23/israeli-military-gaza-war-microsoft ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17

  5. https://investigate.afsc.org/company/microsoft ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26

  6. https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/7371 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  7. https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/openais-battlefield-foray-led-by-self-described-radical-zionist-18240727 ↩

  8. https://openai.com/index/openai-appoints-retired-us-army-general ↩

  9. https://jacobin.com/2025/04/openai-defense-contracts-tech-militarism ↩

  10. https://www.ohchr.org/en/business/bhr-database ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/09/25/update-on-ongoing-microsoft-review ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. https://fortune.com/2025/02/19/israel-microsoft-openai-raises-questions-powerful-tech ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  13. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. https://openai.com/index/disrupting-deceptive-uses-of-ai-by-covert-influence-operations ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/g-s1-1670/openai-influence-operations-china-russia-israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3