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WASHINGTON — In a move that underscores the growing unease in Washington over the unchecked power of artificial intelligence, Microsoft, Google, and Elon Musk’s xAI have agreed to give the federal government early access to their most advanced, unreleased AI models.
The arrangement, announced this week, allows government scientists to probe the systems for vulnerabilities before they are released to the public a striking shift in the balance of power between Silicon Valley and Washington.
Officials say the program is designed to prevent frontier AI from becoming a weapon in the wrong hands. The Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), a relatively new arm of the Commerce Department, has already conducted more than 40 evaluations of cutting-edge models, including those from OpenAI and Anthropic.
A Rising Alarm Over “Mythos”
The urgency stems in part from Anthropic’s latest model, known as Mythos, which has demonstrated capabilities in cybersecurity that alarmed federal officials.
They fear the system could be exploited by hackers to penetrate critical infrastructure or accelerate cyberwarfare.
“AI is no longer just a consumer technology,” said one senior administration official. “It’s a national security issue.”
A New Era of Oversight
For years, tech companies insisted they could police themselves. But the new agreements mark a turning point: the government is now positioning itself as a gatekeeper, demanding visibility into the most powerful systems before they reach the public.
Microsoft has pledged to share datasets and workflows with federal scientists, while Google’s DeepMind will provide proprietary models for national security risk assessments.
Musk’s xAI, a relative newcomer, has agreed to hand over its frontier systems for cybersecurity testing.
OpenAI and Anthropic, already under scrutiny, have allowed CAISI to run red-team exercises on their unreleased models, including GPT-5.5-Cyber and Mythos.
Political Stakes
The Trump administration is weighing an executive order that would formalize the government’s role in reviewing AI tools, potentially enshrining CAISI’s authority into law. Such a move would represent one of the most aggressive regulatory steps yet in the global race to control artificial intelligence.
Critics warn that centralizing oversight could stifle innovation or give Washington too much influence over private technology. But supporters argue that without strong safeguards, adversaries could exploit AI faster than America can regulate it.
The debate highlights a tension at the heart of the AI revolution: how to balance innovation with accountability.
Companies fear losing their competitive edge, while policymakers worry about AI’s potential to destabilize economies, militaries, and societies.
For now, the collaboration signals a rare alignment between tech giants and government regulators.
Both sides appear to recognize that the stakes are too high for business as usual.
The Bigger Picture
The United States is not alone in grappling with AI oversight.
Europe has moved forward with sweeping regulations, while China has tightened state control over its domestic AI industry.
Washington’s latest step suggests it is determined not to fall behind.
“This is about ensuring AI doesn’t become the next nuclear arms race,” said another official involved in the program.
AI models to federal scientists marks a watershed moment in the relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington.
For the first time, the U.S. government is asserting itself as a proactive guardian of frontier technology a role that could reshape the future of artificial intelligence.
