OpenAI Wants the US to Set Ground Rules for the AI Race
Synopsis
OpenAI is seeking national AI safety requirements in the US while supporting four California bills covering safety assessments, auditors, youth protections and biological threats.
OpenAI is pushing for a national standard of AI safety in the United States and is endorsing state-level laws until Congress rams through a federal law.
The company is supporting four bills in California that address independent safety testing, standards for AI auditors, protection of minors and prevention of AI-powered biological attacks. The measures are SB 813, AB 1405, SB 1119 and AB 1864.
Four California Bills Set the Immediate Agenda
OpenAI said SB 813 would create infrastructure for third-party safety reviews, and AB 1405 would cover the standards for AI auditors. SB 1119 provides youth protections and AB 1864 deals with AI-powered bio threats.
The proposal arrives as nations are adopting varying strategies to national AI safety needs and wider AI governance. The European Union will have binding requirements on general purpose AIs under the EU AI Act that will commence enforcement on August 2, 2026.
The UK is keen to apply existing sector regulators to oversee AI, while Singapore has adopted its Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI. Targeted rules were introduced in China for generative AI services and Canada launched a public consultation in July 2026 on transparency.
AI Spending Gives the Policy Debate Greater Scale
Most AI risk-management efforts are still voluntary, while some countries are laying out rules, the International AI Safety Report 2026, endorsed by over 30 countries and international organisations and compiled by over 100 experts, said.
According to the new forecast from Gartner, worldwide AI spending will reach approximately $2.60 trillion in 2026, a 47% increase from 2025. Over 45% of spending will be on AI infrastructure.
In 2025, OpenAI said it expects to make $13 billion in revenue and spend approximately $8 billion. It closed a funding round in March 2026 with $122bn of committed capital, for a total $852bn (post-money) valuation.
The firm also recorded a revenue of more than $20 billion a year, double the amount recorded in 2024, and its computing power rose to 1.9 gigawatts in 2025.
As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in various industries and governments are working on various regulatory models, the drive for national AI safety measures is ramping up for OpenAI.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
