The Trump administration’s decision to keep its new framework on government AI testing private has surprised the tech policy sector. This community had been waiting for months to understand the controversial process, hoping it would clarify the administration’s influence over private AI model releases.
Illustration by Samantha Wong and Adobe Stock anticipated the framework would outline the procedures and standards for government testing of private AI models before public release. Industry analysts expected it would resolve confusion surrounding the release of private models. However, when the White House briefed leading AI labs about the framework, participants were informed that the framework would not become public, according to those familiar with the meeting.
“We were hoping for clarity around what and some certainty around how the process would work. The fact that the framework is not going to be public makes that harder to get right,” said Neil Chilson, AI policy head at the Abundance Institute.
Representatives from labs like Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft attended Tuesday’s briefing, according to sources. Forbes reported that Nvidia and other smaller firms also sent staff. It remains unclear if non-attendees will access the framework.
The executive order required several agencies to develop a classified benchmarking process to evaluate AI models’ cyber capabilities within 60 days. While benchmarks were intended to remain confidential, the order also sought agencies to create a “voluntary framework” for designating a “covered frontier model” for cooperation with the federal government. This included selecting “trusted partners” to have early access to new models.
The Foundation for American Innovation (FAI), a center-right technology and policy think tank, filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the White House’s Office of Cyber Director to release the framework, according to Samuel Hammond, FAI’s chief economist and AI policy director.
For further details, see the full report at TheHill.com.
In related updates, the Senate left town for an August recess without voting on a cryptocurrency regulation bill, affecting its chances of passing before the midterm elections. The crypto sector remains hopeful that the Clarity Act, which would establish regulatory guidelines for the industry, could progress in September when lawmakers reconvene.
The tech sector continues to face various challenges, such as the potential regulation of AI industries and the development of technologies like synthetic viruses and data centers. Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI,” expressed concerns about future AI models’ potential to surpass human capabilities.
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