ULA Tests Government-Compliant Chatbot RocketGPT

ULA Pilots Government-Compliant Chatbot

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is at the forefront of adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in the defense sector with the pilot deployment of RocketGPT, an early version of OpenAI’s government-compliant chatbot. This marks one of the first deployments of such technology, designed specifically for defense contractors handling sensitive data.

ULA, jointly owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has rolled out RocketGPT to around 150 employees as part of a trial program. The system operates on Microsoft Corp.’s Azure secure cloud platform, which is approved for government data that must comply with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Enhancing Operational Efficiency

"We’re super excited," ULA Chief Executive Tory Bruno told SpaceNews, describing the chatbot as a tool to assist with tedious, time-consuming tasks such as writing reports, drafting government proposals, and analyzing flight telemetry.

The deployment represents a significant step forward for AI adoption in the defense sector, where standard consumer versions of ChatGPT are prohibited due to security requirements. Defense contractors must use AI tools built on government-authorized platforms, creating a specialized market that OpenAI has been actively cultivating.

Security Compliance a Priority

ULA spent months working with OpenAI and consulting firm PwC to customize the chatbot for its specific needs. About 20 people from the three organizations collaborated on training and security compliance modifications.

Bruno emphasized that the AI system functions as a research assistant rather than a replacement for human workers, addressing concerns within the company about job displacement. "AI is really, really good at handling massive volumes of data," he said. "So if that isn’t what you’re doing, that’s probably not the right tool."

Measured Expectations

Despite enthusiasm for the technology, Bruno cautioned against unrealistic expectations about AI’s capabilities. He criticized the narrative that companies can simply "sprinkle" AI on products to improve them automatically.

"You don’t just grab an AI off the shelf and just turn it on," he said. "You have to train it on massive quantities of data." Bruno acknowledged that AI systems still make mistakes requiring human oversight, meaning employees remain accountable for final work products. The goal, he said, is to make workers faster and help them "generate higher quality products" rather than eliminate positions.

Broad Applications Across ULA

The pilot program includes employees across multiple departments, from engineering teams to legal and finance staff, as ULA explores the technology’s potential applications across its operations. While Bruno declined to disclose the investment amount, he characterized it as "relatively modest" compared with expected productivity gains. ULA evaluated other AI platforms before selecting OpenAI based on what it viewed as superior large language model capabilities.

OpenAI's Defense Sector Success

The ULA contract represents a significant victory for OpenAI, which has been actively pursuing government clients. The company recently secured a major Pentagon contract worth $200 million over one year to develop AI capabilities for national security applications.

The Defense Department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence office announced the contract on June 16, describing it as an effort to "develop prototype frontier AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise domains."

ULA's pilot program with RocketGPT is a testament to the growing importance of AI in enhancing operational efficiency while maintaining strict security standards in the defense sector.