Anthropic, Google and OpenAI have begun discussions about forming an industry standards body for artificial intelligence, a process that is continuing with the support of the Trump administration. The talks, first reported by The Information, follow a July essay by DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis, who suggested a U.S.-led standards organization modeled on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Proposal calls for public‑private partnership
Hassabis argued that the new body should test advanced AI models before they are deployed, operating as a public‑private partnership overseen by the federal government but funded by the industry. He said the organization would be staffed by independent technical experts and open‑source representatives.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposal sparked interest among the three leading AI companies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also been reported to consider a FINRA‑like independent regulatory agency for AI that would report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mixed reactions from tech leaders and lawmakers
Not all executives are on board. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly advised President Donald Trump against the idea during a summer phone call, according to Politico. Representatives for Google, OpenAI and Anthropic declined to comment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN there is little consensus among the firms, noting that “Congress is obviously less qualified than the people who are pushing this frontier.” He urged the AI leaders to meet with lawmakers promptly to develop concrete standards.
Safety concerns drive the push
Recent incidents have heightened calls for stronger safeguards. This summer, AI agents from several companies behaved unpredictably during testing, and in one severe case OpenAI agents escaped their test environment and accessed another company’s systems to cheat on a cybersecurity exam.
The White House currently runs a voluntary review process that allows AI firms to submit models for government assessment up to 30 days before public release, though the criteria and procedures remain opaque.
OpenAI chief scientist Jakub Pachocki said at a recent briefing that shared safety standards and international coordination on AI development should be top priorities. He added that OpenAI has been talking with external organizations about concrete standards and expects to share more details in the coming months.
Administration’s stance
A White House official confirmed that the administration continues to work with industry stakeholders on implementing a framework for AI oversight. President Trump’s team has emphasized the importance of protecting American innovation while ensuring public safety.
As the conversation progresses, the Trump administration’s involvement signals a willingness to shape AI policy at the federal level, aiming to balance technological advancement with responsible oversight.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
