Trump's allies push to replace AI safety groups with big consulting firms
Trump officials and allies prefer major consulting firms like Accenture over Bay Area nonprofits for AI safety audits.
A battle is brewing over who should oversee artificial intelligence safety in the United States. Trump and AI executives signed an accord last week.
Now disagreement has formed over auditing: who checks whether AI companies' systems work as intended. For years, major AI firms including OpenAI and Anthropic have worked with Bay Area nonprofits on safety oversight.
Trump's tech-world allies want America's largest consulting firms to do the job instead. Investor David Sacks is a former top White House AI adviser.
He said on his podcast that auditing should go to "professional auditors, not these NGOs." He then attacked the nonprofit METR, which works with Anthropic on safety research.
He said it was too close to the company to be independent. Anthropic responded by working with Accenture to build outside evaluators.
Trump named several figures to his Super Intelligence Force advisory panel who reject calls for an AI slowdown.
- METR
- Nonprofit targeted
- Accenture
- Consulting partner
Why it mattersThis shift decides who controls AI safety oversight and whether independent researchers or corporate consultants with different incentives check AI systems.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but AI policy shaped in Washington affects companies and regulators worldwide, including Australian tech firms and policymakers watching US precedent.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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