OpenAI CEO Proposes Voluntary AI Development Slowdown

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has proposed a voluntary, coordinated slowdown of frontier artificial intelligence development with other major labs, citing growing safety concerns. The suggestion, made during a companywide meeting this week, marks a significant shift for a company known for accelerating the pace of AI advancement. Altman told employees that OpenAI is open to moderating its development speed if competing laboratories agree to cooperate, according to people familiar with the discussion. However, reaching an industrywide agreement could prove difficult if other companies decline to participate. The proposal comes amid heightened scrutiny over AI safety and the risks posed by rapidly advancing models. OpenAI's chief scientist, Jakub Pachocki, has publicly advocated for voluntary slowdowns until companies establish shared safety standards. He has warned that AI developers cannot assume their safety measures will consistently advance as quickly as model capabilities. Altman has reportedly considered Pachocki's position significant. The discussions follow a series of internal safety incidents and growing public anxiety from researchers.