Sam Altman and Dario Amodei Agree for Once, Sign Letter Against AI-Assisted Bioweapons - Gizmodo

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have signed an open letter urging policymakers to pass legislation requiring gatekeeping of synthetic nucleic acid ordering. The two executives, whose companies are often considered rivals in the AI safety space, found rare common ground on this issue.

The letter specifically calls for mandatory screening of synthetic nucleic acid orders, a measure that biosecurity experts have long advocated. While the letter does not provide detailed policy language, it signals a unified industry push for regulation aimed at reducing the risk of AI-assisted bioweapon development. Altman and Amodei have previously differed on approaches to AI safety; Altman's OpenAI has been criticized for releasing models quickly, while Amodei's Anthropic has emphasized cautious deployment.

The timing of the letter coincides with growing concerns about the potential misuse of advanced AI models, including their ability to design novel pathogens. The U.S. The letter represents a notable moment of alignment between two major AI leaders, though its impact will depend on whether lawmakers act on the request.