- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed a three-step plan to slow AI development before it “outrun our ability to understand and control these systems.”
- Anthropic selected Accenture as an embedded evaluator, advancing the first step of Amodei’s proposal.
- Clayton was reported as the frontrunner for a White House AI position, although a White House official said no announcement had been made.
Anthropic Proposal Pushes for a Safer Pace of AI Development
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has proposed a three-step framework to pace the speed of artificial intelligence development. Cointelegraph reported on Sept. 12 that Amodei warned uncontrolled progress could “outrun our ability to understand and control these systems.”
Anthropic subsequently selected Accenture as an embedded evaluator to help moderate the pace of AI development. The move represents progress on the first step outlined in Amodei’s proposal, according to Cointelegraph.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded positively to Amodei’s proposal. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took a different position, arguing that additional regulation was not necessary.
White House Seeks Corporate Commitments on AI Oversight
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump gathered AI and technology executives at the White House to sign a new commitment to “self-police” their companies’ AI models and development, CNN reported. The commitment came as technology leaders and policymakers continued to debate whether voluntary oversight and industry-led safeguards are sufficient for rapidly advancing AI systems.
The White House was also linked to a potential AI-related role for Clayton. CBS News first reported that Clayton was the frontrunner for the position. However, a White House official told CBS that any announcement would come directly from the president and dismissed the reports as speculation.
Clayton’s Intelligence Role and AI Policy Background
Clayton led the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term and later served as interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Sources told CNN that Clayton was expected to remain in his current role as director of national intelligence while potentially taking on the AI position.
The Senate confirmed Clayton in July to lead the intelligence community. During his confirmation hearing, Clayton described AI as a “game changer” and said it was “not only an opportunity but a threat,” according to CNN.
David Sacks Frames AI Risk as an Orwellian Threat
Cointelegraph reported in March that David Sacks, a venture capitalist who became a special White House official under Trump last year, had completed a 130-day tenure as crypto and AI czar. Under US rules, special government employees are limited to 130 days of work within a 12-month period.
“We’ve now used up that time,” Sacks told Bloomberg in March. He said he would continue making policy recommendations across a broad range of technology industries as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Sacks has argued that the central AI risk is Orwellian rather than a Terminator-style scenario. His position adds to a wider policy debate involving voluntary corporate commitments, external evaluation, regulatory oversight and the pace at which advanced AI systems are developed.
Why This Matters
The developments place AI safety and governance at the center of discussions involving Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX, Nvidia and the White House. Amodei’s proposal focuses on slowing development to improve understanding and control, while the White House commitment emphasizes companies policing their own AI models and development. The reported possibility of a dedicated AI role for Clayton would further connect AI policy with the administration’s national security and technology agenda, although the White House had not confirmed the appointment described in the reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dario Amodei propose?
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote a three-step proposal to pace AI development at a safer speed. Anthropic’s selection of Accenture as an embedded evaluator advanced the proposal’s first step.
What did the White House AI commitment involve?
President Donald Trump gathered AI and technology chiefs at the White House to sign a commitment to “self-police” their companies’ AI models and development.
Was Clayton officially appointed to the AI position?
No. CBS News reported that Clayton was the frontrunner, but a White House official said any announcement would come directly from the president and characterized the reports as speculation.
