AI Safety at Risk: NIST Layoffs Threaten U.S. AI Safety Institute’s Future

Recent reports suggest that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States may lay off up to 500 employees, a move that poses a significant threat to the fledgling U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI). This potential reduction in workforce is primarily targeted at probationary employees, typically those who have been with the institution for one to two years, indicating a substantial scaling back of projects under NIST, including the AISI and the "Chips for America" initiative.

The U.S. AI Safety Institute, which was established last year as part of then-President Joe Biden's executive order on AI safety, aimed to address the potential risks arising from the development of artificial intelligence and set relevant standards. However, even before these recent layoff reports, the future of the institute seemed uncertain. This uncertainty was exacerbated by the repeal of Biden's executive order by President Trump upon resuming office, as well as the departure of the AISI director in early February.

The layoffs have drawn criticism from various AI safety and policy advocates. Jason Green-Lowe, the Executive Director of the Center for AI Policy, voiced his concerns, stating that if these layoffs materialize, they would severely undermine the government's ability to research and address critical AI safety issues at a time when expertise in AI safety is more essential than ever.