ChatGPT is heading to Washington for the price of a vending machine soda. OpenAI has struck a deal with the U.S. government to provide access to its enterprise-level AI tools for just $1, as part of a broader partnership with the Defense Department’s Chief Digital and AI Office. It’s a strategic move that costs almost nothing and buys plenty of influence.
ChatGPT now available across federal agencies
The agreement allows federal employees to use ChatGPT Team, a version tailored for workplace use. It runs on GPT-4, includes code interpreters and memory, and keeps agency data siloed from OpenAI’s training systems. The software is already being distributed through a new public-sector storefront inside the U.S. AI.gov platform.
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The $1 price tag is more than just a PR stunt
On paper, this looks like a giveaway. But OpenAI stands to gain long-term positioning. The symbolic price lets it wedge its tools into high-level federal workflows, while partners like Microsoft facilitate the rollout through Azure infrastructure. For OpenAI, it’s not about the dollar it’s about the foothold.
ChatGPT Team skips data training concerns
One major selling point for the government version is its data policy. Anything entered stays within the walls of the agency none of it feeds future models. That’s been a sticking point for public-sector adoption of AI tools, and OpenAI’s setup addresses it head-on.
Microsoft helps push it deeper into the stack
While OpenAI provides the model, Microsoft is handling a lot of the plumbing. Azure hosts the government-approved environment, and the offering itself is available through Microsoft’s secure marketplace. This deal strengthens their joint grip on enterprise and institutional AI access.
- ChatGPT Team provided to U.S. government for $1
- Runs on GPT-4 with memory and code interpreter features
- Data stays siloed no training from government inputs
- Delivered via Azure and Microsoft’s secure marketplace
- First step in a larger partnership with the Defense Department
ChatGPT enters D.C. and it’s not leaving anytime soon
The software isn’t classified, but the strategy is clear. For OpenAI, getting ChatGPT into federal hands means long-term institutional trust and future contracts. If you’re wondering what $1 can buy in 2025, the answer might be the ears of the most powerful government on Earth.
That’s one hell of a receipt.
