OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has expressed support for components of a bipartisan federal bill that would require large artificial intelligence (AI) companies to undergo independent audits of their technology. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, indicated the company's backing for these requirements during a recent roundtable with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. This marks the first time OpenAI has supported a federal mandate for third-party assessments of AI models.
The proposed regulations are part of the FRONTIER Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA). The legislation seeks to address potential harms by requiring developers to submit their large language models for external review. According to an OpenAI spokesperson, while the company supports the audit provisions, it has not yet endorsed the entirety of the legislative package.
Under the terms of the FRONTIER Act, independent organizations would evaluate whether an AI company's safety protocols are sufficient to mitigate "acceptable levels of catastrophic risk." The bill also includes provisions requiring developers to publish reports regarding their models and to disclose safety incidents. OpenAI previously advocated for mandatory national safety requirements and industry collaboration in a September 9 blog post.
The day-to-day change for these companies would involve opening their technology to outside inspectors. If the bill is enacted, developers would also have to establish reporting channels for safety failures. The source does not provide a specific timeline for when these audits would begin or how long the review process would take for each model.
On a broader scale, this policy could influence global AI standards. Lehane stated that U.S. leadership in this area is necessary to ensure the technology is developed responsibly. However, Joseph Miller of PauseAI UK noted that government intervention is likely required because companies may not implement sufficiently strong safeguards voluntarily. The FRONTIER Act remains before lawmakers.