Commerce Department

• Google, Microsoft, and xAI joined OpenAI and Anthropic in providing the US Commerce Department pre-release access to evaluate their AI models, creating the first voluntary oversight mechanism for all five major frontier AI labs. • The Commerce Department announced the expansion on Tuesday, establishing a framework with no statutory authority and fewer than 200 staff members to address national security concerns before public model releases. • The Mythos crisis forced the US government to confront the absence of formal mechanisms to evaluate powerful AI models that could threaten national security before public deployment.

The US Commerce Department withdrew a planned rule on artificial-intelligence chip exports on Friday, marking the latest policy reversal by the Trump administration regarding technology trade controls. The withdrawal represents a significant shift in the administration's approach to regulating AI semiconductor exports, which had been a contentious issue affecting companies like Nvidia and other chipmakers. This decision follows earlier statements from administration officials indicating a more flexible stance on AI chip distribution policies compared to previous regulatory frameworks. The reversal signals potential changes in how the US will manage competition with foreign nations in advanced semiconductor and AI technology sectors.