Numerous AI-related bills are currently being discussed in Congress, and OpenAI is actively supporting some of them.
On Tuesday, OpenAI endorsed three Senate bills that could influence the federal government’s approach to artificial intelligence. One of these bills, the Future of AI Innovation Act, aims to officially establish the United States AI Safety Institute as a federal entity responsible for setting standards and guidelines for AI models.
“We have consistently supported the mission of the institute, which leads the U.S. government’s efforts to ensure that frontier AI systems are developed and deployed safely,” stated Anna Makanju, OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs, in a LinkedIn post. Makanju noted that the bill provides Congressional support for the new institute to “minimize the potential risks posed by this new technology.”
OpenAI also backed the NSF AI Education Act and the CREATE AI Act. These bills aim to offer federal scholarships for AI research and create AI educational resources for colleges and K-12 schools.
Why is OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, endorsing U.S. legislation now? According to Makanju’s LinkedIn post, OpenAI believes the government has a crucial role in ensuring AI is safe and accessible. Additionally, OpenAI is a global leader in generative AI, having reached an $86 billion valuation through partnerships with Microsoft and Apple. As a likely target for future regulatory scrutiny, these endorsements help OpenAI build goodwill with federal lawmakers and secure a place in future AI regulation discussions.
When asked for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson referred TechCrunch to Makanju’s LinkedIn post.
On Monday, OpenAI, along with several large and small companies including Microsoft, Meta, Palantir, Cohere, and Amazon, signed a letter to lawmakers supporting the AI Safety Institute. The Future of AI Innovation Act envisions the institute collaborating with private and public organizations to develop AI standards.
The Future of AI Innovation Act also mandates that federal agencies develop curated datasets for public use, which are unlikely to be produced by private companies.
OpenAI’s timing is strategic; two of these bills are scheduled for review in an Executive Session on Wednesday morning. This is part of the careful maneuvering by OpenAI and other AI firms to gain favor with lawmakers who may eventually determine their regulatory future.