The National Institute of Standards and Technology could dismiss up to 500 staff members, according to several reports – cuts that also threaten an emerging AI security organization.
Axios reported this week Whether the US Ai Safety Institute (AISI) and Chips for America, both part of the NIST, would be “emptied” by the layoffs targeting probationary employees (which are generally in their first year or two at work). And Bloomberg said Some of these employees had already received a verbal opinion from the upcoming resorts.
Even before the latest dismissal reports, the future of the AISI was uncertain air. The Institute, which is supposed to study risks and develop standards around the development of AI, was created last year as part of the president of Joe Biden at the time Executive decree on IA security. President Donald Trump Abrogated this order On his first day of return, and the director of the AISI Party earlier in February.
Fortune spoke to a number of IA security and policy organizations who all criticized the reported layoffs.
“These cuts, if confirmed, would have a serious impact on the government’s ability to seek and respond to AI critical security problems at a time when such expertise is more vital than ever,” said Jason Green -Wow, executive director of the Center for IA policy.
