OpenAI Backs Federal Legislation Requiring Independent AI Safety Audits
OpenAI supports a bipartisan congressional bill mandating independent audits for large AI models to mitigate catastrophic risks and ensure safety.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — OpenAI has signaled its support for key components of a bipartisan congressional proposal that would mandate independent audits for the most powerful artificial intelligence models. Chris Lehane, the company’s chief global affairs officer, confirmed that the organization is backing federal requirements for third-party assessments of AI development.
While OpenAI has previously supported state-level regulatory efforts, this move represents the company’s first public endorsement of a federal mandate requiring external oversight of its work. Under the proposed framework, an independent body would be tasked with verifying that an AI firm’s safety protocols are robust enough to keep potential catastrophic risks within acceptable limits.
The legislation, known as the FRONTIER Act, is spearheaded by Rep. Jay Obernolte, a California Republican, and Rep. Lori Trahan, a Massachusetts Democrat. The bill would compel AI developers to release detailed reports on their models and provide transparency regarding any safety incidents.
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Despite this support, the company has not offered its full endorsement of the entire bill. Lehane emphasized in a September 9 blog post that OpenAI is pushing for Congress to establish mandatory national safety standards and encourages industry leaders to work together on unified benchmarks.
Lehane noted that the stakes are enormous. Advanced AI could accelerate the development of new medicines, strengthen critical infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and help solve scientific problems that have resisted generations of human effort. However, he acknowledged that the same capabilities that increase utility also introduce risks that will not remain confined to a few frontier laboratories.
The push for regulation comes as experts express growing concern over the potential for advanced systems to cause harm. Joseph Miller, an AI safety researcher and founder of PauseAI UK, argued that the public conversation regarding AI risk control is long overdue, adding that he believes major developers are unlikely to implement necessary safeguards without government intervention.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
