Washington's AI safety watchdog left leaderless as it is drawn closer to White House

Critics fear its findings on risks ranging from cyberattacks to bioweapons could be softened to suit the tech industry. The US government body that tests advanced artificial intelligence for safety has no permanent leader and has stopped publishing its research, according to the Associated Press. Two former government officials told the news agency that staff at the Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence (CAISSI), part of the Commerce Department, have recently been asked to report informally to a White House office. Critics say the change could politicise the centre’s work. They warn its findings could be muted to suit AI companies, which have largely been left to police themselves. Caroline Siegel Singh of the Federation of American Scientists said the aim was for “nonpartisan or bipartisan technocratic experts” to shape policy in the public interest. Others argue that closer ties to President Donald Trump could raise the centre’s profile and bring it more funding. CAISSI receives $10 million (€8.94m) a year, roughly an eighth of the budget of its UK counterpart. By contrast, the EU’s AI Office, which sits within the European Commission and has had powers to fine developers of the most advanced AI models since August, employs more than 125 people and is reportedly recruiting another 40 staff. No leader, no reports, no oversight CAISSI has struggled to keep a leader. Collin Burns, a former Anthropic researcher, was pushed out as director after just four days in April, reportedly over his links to the company. His successor, Chris Fall, resigned three months later. Arvind Raman, who heads the centre’s parent body, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is now acting director. In August, Congress asked why the centre had stopped releasing its safety reports. In September, Trump urged AI firms to commit to “tremendous self-policing” under a voluntary pact, but his administration has not said how it will check that they comply. The White House did not answer questions about CAISSI. Instead it pointed to Trump’s new Super Intelligence Force, which is led by National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton. Amos Toh of the Brennan Center for Justice told AP that treating AI safety as a national security matter risked sidelining consumer protection, privacy and civil rights. “All of these decisions are of immense public consequence and should be explained and rationalised in the public eye,” Toh said. “And that’s not happening.”