Trump administration asks OpenAI to stagger release of new model
The Trump administration has reportedly asked OpenAI to stagger the release of its next major AI model, citing concerns about potential risks and the need for careful evaluation before public deployment.
Background
- OpenAI is the creator of ChatGPT and a leading AI company; its new "reasoning" model (likely called o3 or similar) is expected soon.
- The request from the Trump administration — likely through the White House AI policy team or a security agency — signals growing concern about rapid AI advances outpacing safety measures.
- This is not a binding order but carries political weight; OpenAI's response will be watched as a test of voluntary cooperation between government and frontier AI labs.
- Debate mirrors a longstanding split: some argue AI should be deployed cautiously with government oversight, others warn that slowing release cedes advantage to China and stifles innovation.
- Past similar requests have been made by both Trump and Biden administrations regarding other AI models, making this part of an ongoing pattern of informal governance.