OpenAI seeks legal clarity on potential industry slowdown for AI development

OpenAI has sought guidance from Congress on whether orchestrating a slowdown in frontier AI development across the industry would be legal, according to sources. Legal experts warn that such coordination could conflict with U.S. antitrust laws, including the Sherman Antitrust Act. Nicholas Felstead, a former AI policy fellow, argued that a coordinated pause in AI development might constitute output restrictions, potentially violating ant, but legal uncertainty remains a concern. In July, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would allow AI labs to collaborate on safety and security efforts without antitrust risks. Caleb Knapp, from the AI Policy Network, said the bill would provide legal pathways for collaboration. However, he noted that legislative action may be delayed until after the upcoming midterm elections. Some AI leaders argue that antitrust concerns are a convenient excuse to avoid collaboration, citing fierce competition and differing views on AI safety. John Schulman, a former OpenAI cofounder, urged industry leaders to work together on safety proposals, stating that antitrust laws do not prohibit joint development. Recent security incidents, including OpenAI’s agents hacking Hugging Face, have intensified calls for AI regulation, prompting lawmakers to push for urgent action on AI safety.