OpenAI’s Sam Altman to promote AI standards during UN speech

Fresh updates from the financial markets indicate that OpenAI’s Sam Altman will pitch the idea of creating global AI standards when he speaks at the United Nations on Wednesday, positioning himself as a centrist on the question of whether to slow down the technology’s progress.

Sam Altman, the firm’s co-founder and chief executive officer, is set to appear in person at a UN Security Council session, where diplomats will gather to discuss artificial intelligence. Dario Amodei, head of OpenAI rival Anthropic PBC, will join by video feed.

The OpenAI leader will take the role of “pragmatic centrist” by promoting common AI safety standards without holding back innovation or concentrating too much power in the hands of a few firms, representatives for the firm stated in a briefing ahead of Altman’s speech.

The meeting takes place on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly debate in New York. A major theme this year is the fear of AI run amok — concerns stoked by an Anthropic researcher quitting in protest earlier this month.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivered a speech on Tuesday warning of AI’s dangers and calling for global cooperation. President Donald Trump, making his own remarks soon afterward, dismissed the idea as a “globalist scheme.”

In response to a question around Trump’s comments, OpenAI spokespeople stated that the firm isn’t endorsing any specific international regulatory body. Instead, OpenAI is advocating for basic standards around AI safety — and for democratic control. The various international AI safety institutes could be involved, they stated.

The United Nations additionally could play a role in conversations around standards and each country may come up with different approaches through democratic means, the OpenAI spokespeople stated.

Altman first discussed the idea of a US-led, global body in July, and most recently laid out the ideas for such a network in a blog post earlier the current week.

Anthropic didn’t respond to a request for comment around what Amodei will say at the meeting.