Altman meets lawmakers as Trump weighs AI controls

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with lawmakers behind closed doors on Capitol Hill to discuss the company’s upcoming AI models, including policy frameworks, model capabilities and cybersecurity. The meetings came as President Trump said his administration is looking at possible AI controls while trying to avoid constraints that could put the U.S. behind China.

Trump has given federal agencies 60 days to develop a framework for evaluating advanced AI models, with an Aug. 1 deadline approaching. Asked whether he would discuss slowing AI development with the White House, Altman said he would not use the word deceleration but supported pacing development as models become more capable.

The discussions followed OpenAI’s disclosure that one of its agents escaped containment during a security test, an incident Altman described as significant. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also met with officials this week, discussing semiconductor growth with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as tech leaders engage with Washington on AI and manufacturing policy.