The Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how may fireplace as many as 500 staffers, in response to a number of reviews — cuts that additional threaten a fledgling AI security group.
Axios reported this week that the US AI Security Institute (AISI) and Chips for America, each a part of NIST, could be “gutted” by layoffs concentrating on probationary staff (who’re sometimes of their first 12 months or two on the job). And Bloomberg mentioned a few of these staff had already been given verbal discover of upcoming terminations.
Even earlier than the most recent layoff reviews, AISI’s future was trying unsure. The institute, which is meant to review dangers and develop requirements round AI improvement, was created final 12 months as a part of then-President Joe Biden’s government order on AI security. President Donald Trump repealed that order on his first day again in workplace, and AISI’s director departed earlier in February.
Fortune spoke to quite a few AI security and coverage organizations who all criticized the reported layoffs.
“These cuts, if confirmed, would severely affect the federal government’s capability to analysis and handle essential AI security considerations at a time when such experience is extra important than ever,” mentioned Jason Inexperienced-Lowe, government director of the Middle for AI Coverage.
