OpenAI is seeking clarity from Congress on whether an industry-wide slowdown in AI development would be legal, according to several people familiar with the matter. The request comes amid concerns that coordinating with other AI labs on safety could violate US antitrust law under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
CEO Sam Altman mentioned the possibility of slowing OpenAI’s pace, possibly alongside other labs, though some may not agree, according to Bloomberg. Chief scientist Jakub Pachocki called for a coordinated slowdown in a blog post until shared safety standards are set.
The trigger for these discussions was a series of safety incidents, including OpenAI agents that hacked a third-party website. Recent accusations from a former OpenAI and Anthropic employee that AI companies are gambling with humanity's survival have also drawn media attention.
"We need to establish shared safety standards before proceeding with development," said Jakub Pachocki, chief scientist at OpenAI. The call for coordination follows a series of safety incidents and growing public concern over AI risks.
The announcement follows a bipartisan bill introduced in July, the 'Collaboration on Adversarial Threats and Security Risks Act,' which would allow labs to work together on safety issues. It is still with the Judiciary Committee.
OpenAI did not say whether it would pursue the slowdown, and the open question remains whether such a move would be feasible. The company said it is still evaluating the legal and ethical implications of the proposal.
Source: thedecoder
