OpenAI Wants to Know if an AI Industry Slowdown Would Even Be Legal

OpenAI has recently sought guidance from Congress regarding the legality of an industry-wide slowdown in frontier AI development. Legal experts, including Nicholas Felstead, suggest such a coordinated effort could violate US antitrust laws, specifically the Sherman Antitrust Act, by potentially restricting output. The legality would hinge on the specific details of any agreement, and even if safety collaborations might pass antitrust scrutiny, legal uncertainty could act as a deterrent.

This report uniquely highlights OpenAI's direct inquiry to Congress about the legality of an AI industry slowdown, unlike previous discussions focused on ethical or technical feasibility.