Key facts
- OpenAI is advocating for a less stringent AI safety bill in Massachusetts.
- The company supports mandatory third-party audits, similar to Illinois law.
- This contrasts with Anthropic's backing of a stronger House bill requiring independent safety evaluations.
- OpenAI's lobbying efforts aim to establish a consistent national framework for AI development.
- OpenAI has recently engaged with Massachusetts legislators on the proposed bill.
OpenAI is actively lobbying Massachusetts policymakers to adopt a less stringent version of a proposed AI safety bill, specifically advocating for the inclusion of mandatory third-party audits. This proposal, which OpenAI endorsed, aligns with legislation in states like Illinois and aims to create a consistent national regulatory approach in the absence of federal action. The company's spokesperson, Liz Bourgeois, stated that this strategy, termed 'reverse federalism,' encourages states to converge on similar rules for advanced AI development. OpenAI's engagement with Massachusetts legislators began recently, with lobbyists in active discussions with the bill's Senate sponsor. This approach stands in contrast to a proposal backed by Anthropic, which supports a stronger Massachusetts House bill. Anthropic's bill would mandate independent safety evaluations for top AI companies and grant more authority to the state attorney general, a standard considered higher than third-party audits. Cesar Fernandez, Anthropic's head of U.S. state and local government relations, described the House bill as the nation's strongest AI safety proposal and highlighted Anthropic's focus on pushing for increasingly tough safety regulations, differentiating it from OpenAI's efforts to harmonize existing state rules.