Former Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll was hired by artificial intelligence (AI) developer OpenAI, where he will serve as a senior counselor for national security modernization. According to the maker of the popular ChatGPT platform, Driscoll, who stepped down from his Pentagon role in September, will advise the AI maker on how the technology could be used to bolster national security and cybersecurity.
“In this newly created role, Dan will work with OpenAI teams and leaders across governments, industry, academia, and allied institutions to advance practical modernization initiatives that support the buildout of democratic AI. He will also help internal OpenAI teams understand the operational needs of global national security institutions,” the company announced.
Driscoll previously served as the 26th Secretary of the Army, where he oversaw the service’s operations, modernization, and resources. He was credited with driving the Army’s accelerated adoption and fielding of new technology.
“I’ve spent much of my career in public service, first as a Soldier and most recently as Secretary of the Army and Acting Director of ATF,” said Driscoll in a statement.
“The people who serve deserve the very best tools we can put in their hands. National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years,” Driscoll added. “This technology will help them keep pace by cutting through paperwork, making sense of more information, and getting the right answer to the right person faster. I’m joining OpenAI to help the United States and our allies put this technology to work responsibly, for the people who keep us safe.”
The Model of a Modern Military
Driscoll resigned after 18 months as Secretary of the Army. During his time as the top civilian official overseeing the United States Army, Driscoll also prioritized rapid technological modernization, AI integration, and a specialized Army drone battalion.
Now, Driscoll will be heading to one of the companies that has already issued multiple warnings about the risks and potential threats posed by advanced AI. That included company CEO Sam Altman, who warned the UN Security Council that rapidly advancing AI could lead to humanity losing control of the future if systems move too fast for human intervention, or concentrate excessive power in too few hands.
“It is clear that the threat posed by AI and AI agents is growing by the day, and having someone with a military perspective certainly makes sense,” suggested Ray Walsh, digital privacy expert at Comparitech.
Walsh told ClearanceJobs that Driscoll could bring a keen eye and valuable experience in understanding national security threats, how these technologies might be used to attack national interests, and how AI-powered cybersecurity could help protect them.
“As AI agents become more sophisticated, there is a real danger that the rush to integrate AI into national security operations could lead to systems being given too much freedom to carry out surveillance in the name of national security,” added Walsh.
AI and IC
Driscoll will help OpenAI navigate the uncharted waters of AI and national security, as well as its role with the intelligence community, which also uses large language models (LLMs) to rapidly process massive volumes of classified and open-source data, accelerate decision-making, and reduce cognitive fatigue for analysts.
Walsh noted that laws such as the Patriot Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act grant U.S. intelligence agencies significant surveillance powers, and supercharging those capabilities with AI could potentially lead to levels of surveillance U.S. citizens have never experienced before.
“Autonomous AI agents being used for surveillance could create a snowball effect, allowing governments to monitor citizens on a scale that was previously impossible without enormous resources. Without proper safeguards, we could eventually see privacy infringements that make the Snowden revelations pale in comparison,” warned Walsh.
Driscoll Should be the First, Not the Last
The tech sector has greatly benefited from a deep and expanding exchange with military officials, defense agencies, and government integration programs in recent years. To that end, Driscoll should be just the first of such high-level officials to transition to the AI sector.
“AI is impacting a lot of different industries, including the military. AI companies should consult experts from all of these industries to assess its impact,” said Paul Bischoff, consumer privacy advocate at Comparitech.
Bischoff told ClearanceJobs he remains cautious on what role Driscoll will play, stating, “I doubt Driscoll will have much input on the actual development of AI.”
Yet Driscoll comes from the Pentagon after leading efforts to adopt emerging technology. He could be well-suited to guiding OpenAI’s dealings with the U.S. military.
“Arguably, this role requires a deep understanding of cybersecurity, public safety, and privacy,” Walsh added. “The question with appointing someone from a military background to this advisory role is whether enough priority will be put on ensuring AI is deployed in a way that provides the highest levels of national security while also protecting citizens’ civil rights.”
