White House finalizes AI framework behind closed doors

The White House said on Monday it met its deadline to establish a voluntary framework for evaluating advanced AI models — but it won't say what the framework contains, who's seen it or when companies will start using it.

Why it matters: The framework is being closely watched beyond the industry players it directly applies to.

• Policymakers, AI safety advocates, and U.S. allies have been waiting to see what the rules for the most powerful models in the world look like.

What they're saying: "The voluntary framework outlined in the June 2nd executive order was complete by the deadline," a White House official said.

• "Discussions with industry about next steps are underway," the official said, adding that the administration is engaging with "many more" industry partners than just Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.
• Leading up to the deadline, the three labs gave the administration feedback on a draft of the framework.

What's inside: The framework is meant to give AI developers a structure for engaging the government to determine whether models under development would be covered.

• The framework is supposed to spell out the confidentiality, cybersecurity, insider-risk, intellectual-property protection use and nondisclosure requirements that would apply when the government gets access to models for up to 30 days before they're released.
• The framework should also include which "trusted partners" will also have early access to models.

Zoom in: The executive order explicitly says the benchmarking process to assess advanced cyber capabilities of AI models will be classified.

• The threshold for which models are covered under the order is also classified and will only be shared with AI developers and researchers "as appropriate."
• The order does not similarly designate the voluntary framework as classified, and policymakers and other observers expected to see details.

Between the lines: Companies are seeking clarity early so they know whether models under development are likely to fall under the framework.

• "Just because things are unclassified that doesn't mean we are going to broadcast them to everyone," the White House official said.

What's next: The White House will hold a staff-level meeting with companies on Tuesday to review the framework, a source familiar said.