<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lobbyists for OpenAI are backing a bipartisan bill that provides a framework for regulating frontier artificial intelligence development.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI’s meeting on Capitol Hill followed CEO Sam Altman's collaboration with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and SpaceXAI CEO Elon Musk to advocate for a national slowdown in frontier AI model development. This initiative was prompted by a letter from a former Anthropic researcher warning that AI models could pose existential risks to humanity by the end of the decade.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, stated on Tuesday that the company supports the bipartisan Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting Act. The bill, introduced in July, aims to establish the first federal, risk-based framework for regulating advanced AI models developed in the United States.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FRONTIER Act would impose regulations on frontier AI models, requiring companies to create model cards detailing how models are built and intended for use, establish risk-management frameworks, report critical safety incidents, and undergo regular audits by independent verification organizations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lehane mentioned that he discussed the Independent Verification Organization (IVO) standards with lawmakers, emphasizing OpenAI's support for these standards in a letter dated September 9. He noted that “democratically accountable standards, independent verification, and meaningful transparency would replace” the current fragmented system of private governance.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lehane stated, “A serious public framework should reduce, not increase, the concentration of power.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The AI CEOs advocating for a slowdown have echoed Amodei’s call for third-party auditors.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FRONTIER Act currently has five co-sponsors, in addition to the initial sponsor, Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA): Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Scott Peters (D-CA), Erin Houchin (R-IN), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA). It has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, and on Science, Space, and Technology.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump has opposed discussions regarding AI regulation, labeling the concerns from model developers as a “hoax.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump stated on Truth Social on Monday, “AI, and Data Centers, will be the Greatest Economic Development Engine in History — Bigger than Oil, Gold, Diamonds, or even the Internet. It will not be stopped by brilliantly run Destructive Forces during the Term of President DONALD J. TRUMP!”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Officials against federal regulation of frontier AI argue that the U.S. must maintain its competitive edge against China in AI development and should not hinder its progress in the AI race.</p>