President Trump's new executive order directs federal agencies to enhance cyber defense of government systems within 30 days and expand AI-powered protection tools. The Department of Defense, CISA, and the Treasury Department are tasked with establishing a clearinghouse for software vulnerabilities in partnership with the AI industry. The order also introduces a voluntary framework for 'covered frontier models,' allowing developers to submit models for safety testing before release. The executive order explicitly rules out any mandatory approval process. It also calls for increased criminal prosecution of AI misuse in cyber attacks and faster hiring of cybersecurity specialists.
The decision was influenced by the debate sparked by the Claude Mythos over cybersecurity risks of AI. Google DeepMind, Microsoft, and xAI had already agreed with the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) to submit new AI models for review ahead of release. OpenAI and Anthropic entered a similar agreement back in 2024. The voluntary nature of the framework remains unclear, as the government has shown willingness to apply pressure to secure AI advantages, especially against China. The new executive order makes the government's regulatory ambitions clear, even as it insists participation is voluntary and promises not to 'stifle this innovation with overly burdensome regulation.'
OpenAI, in its strategy paper 'Democratic Governance of Frontier AI,' calls for a binding national AI safety framework, mandatory pre-release testing of the most powerful models by CAISI, independent audits, and whistleblower protections. The company argues that AI safety decisions should be made by democratic governments, not individual companies. The executive order is 'an important step forward,' and the government should 'now build on that foundation.'
Source: thedecoder
