TechnologyBrief
AP reports AI center officials asked to report informally to White House
The Associated Press cites former officials on an informal request affecting the NIST center, whose stated work includes assessing AI security risks.
Officials at a federal AI safety center were asked to report informally to a White House office, The Associated Press reported November 8, citing former government officials familiar with the discussions.
The AP report cited two former officials who spoke anonymously to avoid repercussions for current staff. The White House did not answer the AP’s specific questions about the center, the outlet said.
The Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST describes its remit as a government contact for industry to facilitate testing and collaborative research on commercial systems.
The agency says the center’s planned work includes voluntary agreements with private developers and evaluators, along with security measurement, guidelines and voluntary standards. Its remit also includes unclassified evaluations of capabilities that could pose national-security risks, including in cybersecurity, biosecurity and chemical weapons.
AP reported that some critics worry closer executive-branch involvement could politicize assessments or lead to findings being altered or muted.
What we don't know yet
- Which White House office were the officials asked to report to, and when was the request made?
- Will a formal reporting arrangement be adopted, and what effect, if any, would it have on evaluations?
Timeline
AP published its report of an informal White House reporting request, citing former officials.