The OpenAI DOE Collaboration has entered a new phase as OpenAI and the U.S. Department of Energy sign a memorandum of understanding to advance artificial intelligence and advanced computing for science.
The agreement reflects a shared belief that AI, when paired with real research environments, can help scientists explore more ideas, test hypotheses faster, and move discoveries from theory to validation with greater speed.
This collaboration sits within OpenAI for Science, an initiative focused on accelerating discovery by integrating frontier AI models into real scientific workflows. The MOU builds on existing work with the Department of Energy’s national laboratories, where OpenAI models are already being used alongside scientists tackling complex, high-impact research challenges across multiple disciplines.
A central pillar of the OpenAI DOE Collaboration is support for the Genesis Mission. This government-led effort brings together public institutions, national labs, and industry partners to apply advanced AI and computing to scientific discovery.
The new agreement establishes a framework for information sharing and coordination, while also creating a pathway for future project-specific agreements as concrete research efforts take shape.
The announcement follows a Genesis Mission event at the White House, where OpenAI for Science leadership joined DOE officials and collaborators. OpenAI emphasized that combining frontier AI with the expertise and infrastructure of national laboratories unlocks new approaches to scientific problem-solving, enabling faster iteration and deeper exploration of complex systems.
Both OpenAI and the Department of Energy share a commitment to advancing basic and applied research while strengthening U.S. leadership in AI and advanced computing. Through the OpenAI DOE Collaboration, the two organizations will exchange technical expertise and explore areas such as fusion energy, where DOE labs provide world-class facilities, rich datasets, and advanced modeling tools critical for progress.
For OpenAI, this agreement reflects a practical philosophy about how AI should support science. Progress comes from working side by side with researchers to understand where AI delivers real value and where its limits remain.
That approach requires close engagement with domain experts, access to high-performance infrastructure, and rigorous evaluation within the environments where scientific work actually happens.
Over the past year, OpenAI has expanded its presence across the DOE national laboratory system. One example is the 1,000 Scientist AI Jam Session, a large-scale collaboration spanning nine national labs.
More than 1,000 scientists used frontier AI models to test domain-specific problems, evaluate responses, and provide structured feedback that informs how these systems evolve.
The OpenAI DOE Collaboration also extends into high-performance computing. OpenAI has deployed advanced reasoning models on the Venado supercomputer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, supporting researchers across National Nuclear Security Administration labs. This work focuses on applying frontier AI within secure, large-scale computing environments to address complex scientific and national research challenges.
In bioscience, the partnership has moved toward more realistic safety and capability evaluations. Working with Los Alamos National Laboratory, OpenAI helped develop assessments that examine how multimodal AI systems perform in laboratory settings. These evaluations go beyond text-based tests and emphasize expert oversight, careful study design, and a strong focus on risk reduction in high-consequence domains.
Looking ahead, the OpenAI DOE Collaboration highlights a broader vision for AI as a scientific instrument. When powerful reasoning models are combined with advanced simulation tools, domain databases, and supercomputing infrastructure, researchers gain new ways to connect ideas, navigate vast bodies of knowledge, and stress-test hypotheses at scale.
Scientific discovery has always advanced fastest when exceptional tools meet exceptional scientists. By deepening its partnership with the Department of Energy and its national laboratories, OpenAI aims to help frontier AI expand what researchers can explore, speed up scientific iteration, and translate insight into real-world impact.
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