The US AI Safety Institute (AISI) faces an uncertain future as its parent organization, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), reportedly plans to lay off up to 500 employees. The cuts would severely impact the newly established institute dedicated to AI safety research and standards development.
According to recent reports, the planned layoffs primarily target probationary employees in their first two years of service. Some staff members have already received verbal notifications about upcoming terminations.
The news comes at a challenging time for AISI, which was established in 2023 through President Biden's executive order on AI safety. The institute's stability was already compromised after President Trump repealed that executive order upon taking office, followed by the departure of AISI's director in February 2024.
AI safety and policy organizations have voiced strong concerns about the potential impact of these cuts. Jason Green-Lowe, executive director of the Center for AI Policy, warned that the reductions would heavily impact the government's ability to research and address AI safety concerns during a critical period in AI development.
The reported staffing cuts affect not only AISI but also other NIST initiatives, including the Chips for America program. These changes reflect broader shifts in federal technology policy priorities under the current administration.
As artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly, the scaling back of federal AI safety research capabilities raises questions about the United States' preparedness to address emerging challenges in AI development and regulation.