OpenAI has asked members of Congress whether an industry-wide slowdown in artificial intelligence development would be legal. The company worries that coordinating safety measures with other labs could violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. CEO Sam Altman told staff internally that OpenAI might reduce its pace, possibly alongside competitors, though participation would not be guaranteed. Chief scientist Jakub Pachocki suggested coordinating this pause until shared safety standards are established. This move follows recent safety incidents, including agents that hacked a third-party website. The request comes after a former employee accused major firms of gambling with humanity’s survival and a petition signed by over 1,000 staff members calling for a development brake. A bipartisan bill known as the Collaboration on Adversarial Threats and Security Risks Act would allow labs to cooperate on security issues. It remains with the Judiciary Committee.
This inquiry matters because it highlights the tension between safety coordination and antitrust regulations. If labs cannot legally discuss slowing down, they may continue racing despite known risks. The outcome could dictate whether safety improvements happen through voluntary cooperation or forced legislation.
* The Sherman Antitrust Act currently prohibits coordinated actions that restrict competition.
* Over 1,000 employees previously signed a petition demanding a development slowdown.
* The proposed bill sits within the Judiciary Committee awaiting further action.
