OpenAI has requested clarification from the US Congress regarding the legality of coordinating an industry-wide slowdown in artificial intelligence development. The company aims to implement safety controls for self-learning systems, but current antitrust laws, including the Sherman Antitrust Act, may prohibit such collaboration between competitors.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill in July titled the Cooperation on Combating Hostile Threats and Security Risks Act. The proposed legislation seeks to protect AI companies from antitrust claims when coordinating to slow down development for safety reasons. The bill is currently pending review by the judiciary committee.
Industry experts and critics suggest that antitrust concerns may be a pretext for avoiding genuine cooperation. Developers are currently engaged in intense market competition and hold conflicting views on safety methodologies. Furthermore, concerns regarding national security and competition with China remain significant barriers to industry-wide collaboration.
John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI, stated that antitrust laws do not prevent companies from jointly developing safety proposals. He urged industry leaders, specifically mentioning OpenAI and Anthropic, to end their rivalry. Debates over AI risks have intensified following warnings from researchers about potential threats to humanity and recent security incidents.
