A number of AI bills have been moving through Congress recently, and OpenAI is supporting several of them.
OpenAI on Tuesday endorsed three Senate bills that could shape the federal government's stance on artificial intelligence. One of the bills, the Future of AI Innovation Act, would formally authorize the American AI Safety Institute as a federal agency that sets standards and guidelines for AI models.
“We have consistently supported the lab's mission to lead the U.S. government's efforts to ensure cutting-edge AI systems are developed and deployed safely,” Anna Makanju, OpenAI's vice president of international affairs, said in a LinkedIn post. Makanju said the bill gives the new lab congressional support to “minimize the potential risks posed by this emerging technology.”
OpenAI also endorsed the NSF AI Education Act and the CREATE AI Act, which would provide federal scholarships for AI research and establish AI education resources within universities and K-12 educational institutions.
So why is OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, backing U.S. legislation now? In a LinkedIn post, Makanju said OpenAI believes there is an important role for governments to play in making AI safe and accessible. But reading between the lines, OpenAI is also leading the world in generative AI. The startup has skyrocketed to $86 billion in valuation thanks to partnerships with Microsoft and Apple. These endorsements will help OpenAI gain credibility from federal lawmakers, as OpenAI will likely face regulatory scrutiny going forward. Moreover, such endorsements will help OpenAI have a presence in future conversations about AI regulation.
When reached for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson referred TechCrunch to Makanju's LinkedIn post.
On Monday, OpenAI joined several large and small companies, including Microsoft, Meta, Palantir, Cohere, and Amazon, in signing a letter to lawmakers in support of the AI Safety Institute. Under the Future of AI Innovation Act, the institute would work with private and public organizations to develop standards for AI systems.
The Future of AI Innovation Act also directs federal agencies to make publicly available curated datasets that private companies are unlikely to create.
OpenAI's timing is no coincidence: Two of those bills are scheduled to be debated in executive session Wednesday morning. It's part of a delicate jockeying campaign by OpenAI and other AI companies to appease lawmakers who may one day decide their fate.