OpenAI examines legality of coordinating an AI slowdown

OpenAI is reportedly exploring whether U.S. antitrust law would block AI companies from coordinating to slow development. Industry leaders worry that acting together on safety grounds could expose them to legal liability.

Why it matters: This exposes a structural tension in AI safety: even if labs agreed development is moving too fast, antitrust law incentivizes them to keep racing rather than coordinate a pause. It follows this week's news of an Anthropic safety researcher resigning over a 'reckless AI race,' suggesting legal and competitive dynamics, not just technical readiness, are shaping deployment pace.