OpenAI is backing a group of bipartisan bills in the U.S. Congress aimed at reducing the risk that artificial intelligence could be used to develop biological weapons or synthetic viruses.
The company confirmed its support for three pieces of legislation focused on biological data and research, along with provisions in the FRONTIER Act that would require stronger safety testing of advanced AI systems. The move comes as lawmakers and AI companies increase their focus on the possibility that increasingly capable AI models could make dangerous biological research easier to carry out.
The bills are the Web of Biological Data Act, the AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act and the Scale Biology Act. Together, they address the way biological information is collected, organized, shared and used for research, including research involving artificial intelligence.
OpenAI Backs Three Bipartisan Bills
OpenAI’s support covers legislation intended to improve access to biological information while adding safeguards around sensitive data.
The Web of Biological Data Act would establish a centralized resource for biological data. The proposal includes provisions for cybersecurity, tiered access and measures to protect sensitive information. The legislation also calls for biological datasets to be made more useful for computational research and artificial intelligence.
The proposed system would include safeguards that could restrict access to certain biological information and protect the data from misuse. The legislation also calls for cooperation between government agencies, national laboratories, universities and industry.
The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act focuses on developing standards for biological data that can be used by AI systems. The goal is to make biological datasets more consistent and usable for research while addressing issues involving security, privacy and data quality.
The Scale Biology Act is designed to support biological research and infrastructure, including biological databases, computational tools and AI technologies. The legislation includes provisions covering genomics, biological data and computational tools that can accelerate research.
The three bills are part of a wider effort to expand U.S. biological research while putting stronger controls around information that could present security risks.
Why AI and Biological Weapons Are a Concern
AI systems are becoming increasingly capable in areas such as biology, chemistry and scientific research. These capabilities can help researchers analyze large datasets, study diseases and develop new medicines, but they also raise concerns about potential misuse. OpenAI itself has acknowledged this risk.
In June, the company said advances in AI for biology could provide major benefits in drug discovery and health research but could also create new biological security challenges. OpenAI said responsible deployment, safeguards and governance would be needed as these systems become more capable.
OpenAI has also developed GPT-Rosalind, a model designed for life-sciences research. The company says the system can support work involving areas such as drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, protein engineering and genomics.
The increasing use of AI in these areas has made the question of who can access sensitive biological information more important for policymakers.
FRONTIER Act would add independent testing
OpenAI is also supporting a provision of the FRONTIER Act that would introduce independent evaluation of advanced AI models.
The provision would require leading AI developers to use independent evaluators to assess the safety of their systems. The idea is to create an external check on powerful models rather than relying entirely on companies to assess their own systems. The proposal comes as Congress considers broader rules for advanced AI systems.
Senate negotiators are also discussing legislation that could impose a legal duty on major AI developers to address known catastrophic risks. A proposal under discussion would cover risks including AI assistance in the development of nuclear or biological weapons.
That legislation remains under negotiation, so its final provisions and whether it becomes law are not yet certain.
OpenAI calls for Mandatory AI Safety Rules
The latest congressional endorsements follow a broader policy push from OpenAI. On September 9, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said the company wants the U.S. to establish mandatory national AI safety requirements based on the capabilities of advanced AI systems.
OpenAI said voluntary commitments by companies would not be enough to address the risks posed by increasingly capable models. The company called for measures including independent assessments, cybersecurity requirements and incident reporting.
OpenAI has also supported state-level legislation related to AI safety. Earlier this month, it announced support for four California bills, including one focused specifically on safeguards against AI-enabled biological threats.
The company has therefore been pushing for safety requirements at both the state and federal levels.
Congress Faces Growing Pressure Over AI Safety
OpenAI’s support for the bills comes as U.S. lawmakers debate how much responsibility AI companies should have for preventing serious misuse of their systems.
The discussion has expanded beyond traditional concerns such as privacy, misinformation and copyright. Lawmakers are increasingly examining whether advanced AI models could create risks involving cybersecurity, biological weapons and other forms of catastrophic harm.
The Senate legislation currently being discussed would potentially require developers of advanced systems to take steps to prevent their models from enabling major risks. Lawmakers have also discussed using national laboratories to test advanced AI models for potential misuse.
Along with this, there is disagreement in Washington over how far federal regulation should go. The debate includes questions about whether government requirements could slow technological development and affect the U.S. position in the global AI race.
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