Under the direction of President Trump, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced plans to transform the U.S. AI Safety Institute into the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI). This reform aims to leverage the agency's scientific and industrial expertise to assess and understand rapidly developing AI systems, identifying vulnerabilities and threats both domestically and internationally.
Secretary Lutnick stated, "For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security. Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards. CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards."
CAISI is set to become the primary point of contact within the U.S. Government for industry-related testing and collaborative research on commercial AI systems' potential. The center will continue its operations within NIST, coordinating with other organizations such as the Information Technology Laboratory, along with various bureaus in the Department of Commerce including BIS.
