By Poulami Saha
OpenAI has confirmed safety discussions with rivals Anthropic and Google DeepMind, focusing on cooperation around advanced AI risks, common standards, and safeguards amid growing industry concerns.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s global policy chief, disclosed the talks during a briefing in Washington. He stated, “The companies are exploring ways to work together on safety and do not believe they need an antitrust waiver to coordinate on these issues.”
AI Rivals Turn to Safety Cooperation
OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind compete directly in the development of advanced AI models and products. Their discussions therefore mark an unusual effort to coordinate on a common area of concern while maintaining competition in the broader AI market. Lehane emphasized that cooperation could help the companies prioritize safety as AI capabilities continue to advance. OpenAI also supports bipartisan legislation designed to address catastrophic AI risks.
The discussions come amid renewed debate over whether the industry should slow the pace of frontier AI development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for more time for safety systems to catch up with AI capabilities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman subsequently expressed support for the broader idea of slowing progress enough to improve safeguards.
Push for Common AI Safety Standards
The latest talks follow earlier discussions among the companies about establishing an industry-wide body for AI safety standards. The proposed organization could develop common protocols for evaluating advanced AI systems and addressing emerging risks. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis earlier supported the idea of an industry standards body for frontier AI. The proposal reflects growing interest in creating shared safety practices rather than relying entirely on individual companies to establish their own frameworks.
These developments signal a potential shift toward collective responsibility in the AI sector, as major players acknowledge that safety cannot be addressed in isolation.