US AI Safety Center Reporting to White House Raises Independence Concerns
The fact that the CAISSI AI center under the U.S. Department of Commerce will report informally to the White House has raised concerns about its independence.
Staff at the Center for Advanced Innovation and Superintelligence Standards (CAISSI) within the U.S. Department of Commerce have begun reporting informally to a White House office, raising concerns about the independence of federal AI assessments.
The Center for Advanced Innovation and Superintelligence Standards (CAISSI), an independent unit within the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been directed to report informally to a White House office, according to two former government officials. The center, which is tasked with evaluating the safety of new AI products, currently lacks a permanent leader and has ceased publishing research.
This development has heightened concerns among critics that the executive branch could politicize AI safety decisions, potentially impacting cybersecurity and other risks. While critics argue that the center's findings could be softened or altered, supporters contend that closer coordination with the White House could provide the center with greater prominence and a larger budget.
The White House did not directly respond to questions on the matter, though it noted that President Donald Trump has established a new 'Superintelligence Force' and remains committed to U.S. leadership in the field of AI. Meanwhile, groups such as Humans First have called for a congressional investigation into the federal AI safety office.