Former US Antitrust Chief: AI Companies Do Not Warrant Exemptions

Jonathan Kanter, former head of the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and a current law professor, has voiced a critical perspective on the demands for regulatory exemptions from major AI companies. Kanter, who played a pivotal role in reshaping U.S. antitrust policy, expressed concern that AI firms might be using safety issues as a pretext to form cartels or stifle competition.

"We’ve invented this incredibly powerful technology, but we have no lines on the road, no traffic lights, and no speed limits," Kanter stated, likening the current situation to inventing cars without roads or rules. He stressed that both companies and the government share responsibility for establishing necessary regulations.

While AI industry players, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have voiced concerns about AI's potential threats and the need to slow development, Kanter remains skeptical of their proposals for waivers from antitrust laws. He suggests that the companies' mutual distrust and the pressure to maintain competitive advantages are driving their collective calls for a slowdown.

According to Kanter, antitrust exemptions or cartel-like arrangements are not the solution to the challenges posed by AI development. Instead, he emphasizes the necessity of creating a clear regulatory framework that promotes safety without undermining healthy competition and innovation.