US AI safety center officials reportedly asked to report to White House

The short version

• Associated Press reports that CAISSI, an independent Commerce Department AI safety division, was asked to informally report to the White House.[Associated Press]
• The division has a $10 million annual budget, about one-eighth of its UK counterpart's, and no permanent director.[Associated Press]
• Congress began asking in August why the center stopped publishing its AI safety evaluations, and OpenAI urged more funding for the division.[Associated Press]
• The account rests on anonymous former officials, and the scope of the reporting arrangement has not been confirmed.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• Two former government officials, speaking anonymously, said CAISSI officials were recently asked to informally report to a White House office.[Associated Press]
• CAISSI is allocated $10 million per year, about one-eighth the annual budget of its UK counterpart.[Associated Press]
• In April, the division's director was hired and fired within days, and his replacement resigned after a few months.[Associated Press]
• The center has had no permanent leader since, and the head of its parent institute serves as acting director.[Associated Press]
• In August, Congress began asking why the center suddenly stopped making public its reports on the safety performance of certain AI systems.[Associated Press]
• OpenAI asked policymakers to provide more money and support for the division.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Staff at the US center for AI safety are reporting to the White House, raising independence concernsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press
• Staff at the US center for AI safety are reporting to the White House, raising independence concernsABC News - US News
• AP sources: Staff at U.S. center for AI safety are reporting to the White House, raising independence concernsPBS NewsHour - Politics