White House considers vetting AI models before release

techMay 4, 202616576

The White House is weighing an executive order to create a federal working group that would vet advanced AI models before their public release, the New York Times says. The proposal specifically targets high-capability systems and follows concerns about Anthropic's recent models, marking a departure from the administration's earlier noninterventionist approach to AI. If implemented, pre-release vetting could delay commercial launches, reshape companies' deployment timelines, and establish a U.S. precedent for government oversight of powerful AI.

Mike Masnick

@masnick.com

Also... kinda seems worth noting that half the reason so many Silicon Valley VCs lined up behind Trump was because a pretty toothless AI policy plan from Biden that basically told companies "be more thoughtful." If the Biden admin had talked about pre-vetting models, it would have been a HUGE story.

2332d ago

Mike Masnick128

I mean, if you listen to the A16Z podcast, over and over again they talk about how Trump has freed up AI innovation, as compared to Biden who (they falsely claim) tried to end all AI tech. But Biden never suggested pre-vetting models. That's all Trump. Seems like maybe worth mentioning?

Blake Emerson

@blakeprof.bsky.social

Wasn’t aware “vetting AI models” was an inherent executive power.

1072d ago

Blake Emerson30

I’d love for us to vet AI models - w f’ing legislation and an agency that’s not controlled by a gang of kleptocratic maniacs.

Doctor Cat, Medical Insurance11

It's literally in the Constitution, just ask chatgpt

Ann M. Lipton9

"who won the 2020 election" "a white man and a black woman apply for a job. vet these resumes"

Luigi in a Coal Mine4

Trump heard “models” and demanded that he personally “vet” each one. They tried to explain to him that it was large language models not teenage girls, but he stopped listening as soon as little Donnie started getting blood for the first time since his best friend Jeff died.

Matthew 🦖2

"Non-interventionist" seems like an inaccurate claim given what they've tried to do with Anthropic. Considering a more interventionist strategy is more like it.

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Breaking News: The Trump administration is discussing vetting new A.I. models before they are publicly released.

412d ago

Quadling16

"Vet" is a euphemism for control. If you think this regime is interested in anything other than cementing its own stranglehold on power, you're hallucinating,

Itzme210

CONsidering means it has already been done.

ArtsulSelva5

awesome, what could go wrong

mikerun.bsky.social4

He is going to try to make money out of this…

Its Getting Clear4

Oh this should be interesting.

Diego Queen3

for a donation to my construction PAC you to can be an approved contractor…

b12345p.bsky.social3

Sounds like just asking for a bribe - highly unlikely they could actually test or ‘vet’ them. Unless it just means the answers to political and philosophical questions are the answers Stephen Miller wants to hear, no actual concern for safety.

Stork2

Seems like a big part of this is going to be penalties for releasing models without gov't approval. Wonder what trump's goals for those are.

afl_chris2

Great. So he can manipulate them. Dementia Donny strikes again.

Twist2

The Grey Lady needs an editor: Breaking News: The Trump administration is assessing how A.I. models can be monetized and weaponized for his own personal and perpetual benefit before they are publicly released.

Sheera Frenkel

@sheeraf.bsky.social

NEW- NEW- The White House is reversing course and considering vetting AI models before they are released. With @trippmickle.bsky.social @julianbarnes.bsky.social and @dustinvolz.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...

342d ago

cusoman 🇺🇸 🇺🇦7

Guarantee this is to "vet" them to make sure they aren't critical of this administration, the GOP or right wing thinking in general

Prior_Industry4

I wonder if there will be any focus on companies that don't allow the pentagon to do what they want with the models 🤔

Not just blue, Bluey3

WH vetting: "make an image of me, pumped like Schwarzenegger, riding a unicorn in a big golden ballroom."

Eric Columbus3

Unless I missed it, I didn’t see anything in the article about the legal basis for the White House to require such vetting. What would the basis be?

noahlz3

Ah yes, that small government I've heard so much about. Love it.

Furore 🇺🇦 established 19852

"vetting" as in "accepting bribes"

tinsal.bsky.social

@tinsal.bsky.social

Who would trust a "vetting" by this White House. Sounds like just another way for Trump to get companies to give him $ -- you know they will ask for "donations" for this. "White House Considers Vetting A.I. Models Before They Are Released" www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...

252d ago

Tom Nawrocki2

The only thing Trump is going to vet is a check with seven zeroes on it.

William Gillis 🏴

@rechelon.bsky.social

Get ready for Grokification where every chatbot will interrupt you to talk about eugenics, a mandatory built-in-feature ever since some Trump apparatchik asked Claude during "vetting" why his ex was a bitch and didn't get the answer he wanted. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...

282d ago

Alondra Nelson

@alondra.bsky.social

Not going to mount a strong defense because there was much that could have been done that wasn’t, but the US AI Safety Institute as established in 2023 did exactly pre-vetting of AI models.

292d ago

Anna E. Cook

@annaecook.com

“White House considers vetting AI models before they’re released” Let me translate this headline “White House considers taking more bribes from billionaires” You’re welcome

232d ago

Nora Benavidez

@attorneynora.bsky.social

Sounds like censorship and frankly deeply disturbing given the lack of expertise in house. But by all means, Biden's team pushing for covid lies to have platform policies applied by tech folks -- that was more worrisome? www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...

102d ago

Justin Hendrix

@justinhendrix.bsky.social

"President Trump, who promoted a hands-off approach to artificial intelligence and gave Silicon Valley free rein to roll out the technology, is considering the introduction of government oversight over new A.I. models, according to U.S. officials and people briefed on the deliberations."

132d ago

upchuck66.bsky.social2

Vetting? Will his vetting process be founded on the amount of money that greases his palm?

murderedbybluesky.bsky.social

@murderedbybluesky.bsky.social

No expertise. None, gotta make the pay-to-play propaganda machines say nice things. The companies themselves cannot guarantee their models behavior, despite best efforts, people still break through the guardrails ALL the time. Just repeating a command to an AI tool usually breaks its safeguards.

62d ago

Mairz

@mairzie.bsky.social

The New York Times www.nytimes.com White House Considers Vetting A.I. Models Before They Are Released. Can someone vet the White House AI before it can release?

42d ago

Mark Fiore

@markfiore.bsky.social

The most experienced president in the history of the United States when it comes to vetting models. I'll be here all week, folks. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...

52d ago