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OpenAI, Trump Administration Discuss Voluntary AI Safety Testing

By  |  July 30, 2026
OpenAI cybersecurity

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman met with Trump administration officials this week as the company and federal policymakers continued discussions over voluntary safety testing for advanced artificial intelligence systems, according to Reuters.

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    The meetings come as the administration works to finalize a voluntary framework for evaluating powerful AI models before they are released more broadly, according to Reuters. The discussions reflect a growing focus in Washington on balancing AI innovation with concerns about cybersecurity and national security risks posed by increasingly capable systems.

    According to Reuters, Altman held meetings with senior administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, as the government seeks industry input on the voluntary testing process. Reuters reported that OpenAI has also engaged with lawmakers during the visit.

    The administration’s efforts build on a June executive order directing federal agencies to establish a voluntary process under which leading AI developers could allow the government to review advanced models before wider deployment, according to Reuters. The initiative is intended to identify potential cybersecurity and other national security risks while avoiding mandatory pre-release approval requirements.

    Related: US Jury Rejects Musk’s Claims Against OpenAI in High-Stakes AI Trial

    Reuters reported that OpenAI, along with other major AI developers, has participated in discussions over the framework. The company has previously supported voluntary government testing while opposing proposals that would require federal approval before new AI models could be released.

    The talks follow heightened scrutiny of advanced AI systems after recent security concerns increased pressure on policymakers to develop safeguards without imposing broad new regulations, according to Reuters.

    According to Reuters, the administration aims to complete the voluntary review framework in the coming days. The outcome could help shape how the U.S. government and AI companies cooperate on evaluating future frontier AI models while preserving a largely voluntary approach to oversight.

    Source: Reuters