OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with lawmakers to endorse bipartisan bills aimed at preventing AI models from accelerating biological weapon threats, including the Web of Biological Data Act and the AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act.

OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, met with members of Congress this week to voice support for two bipartisan bills designed to curb the risk that advanced artificial intelligence could accelerate the development of biological weapons.

Legislative proposals targeting AI‑enabled bio‑threats

The first measure, the Web of Biological Data Act, would create a secure, publicly accessible repository of biological research data while imposing strict controls on how AI systems can query and synthesize that information.

The companion bill, the AI‑Ready Bio‑Data Standards Act, seeks to establish uniform data‑format standards and verification protocols so that AI models can only be trained on vetted, non‑sensitive datasets.

OpenAI’s rationale for backing the bills

Altman told lawmakers that OpenAI is “committed to responsible development” and that pre‑emptive policy safeguards are essential to prevent malicious actors from exploiting generative models to design harmful pathogens.

He emphasized that voluntary industry standards alone are insufficient, noting that “the pace of AI innovation outstrips the speed at which we can self‑regulate,” and that clear legislative guidance would help align the sector around shared safety goals.

Bipartisan support and next steps

The bills have drawn co‑sponsorship from both Democratic and Republican legislators, reflecting growing consensus that AI‑driven bio‑risk is a national‑security priority.

  • Sen. Maria Cantwell (D‑WA) and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R‑TN) introduced the Web of Biological Data Act
  • Rep. Ro Khanna (D‑CA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R‑OH) championed the AI‑Ready Bio‑Data Standards Act
  • Both measures are slated for committee hearings in the coming weeks

If enacted, the legislation would require AI developers to implement provenance tracking for any biological data used in training, and to submit regular compliance reports to a newly formed oversight board.

“We must ensure that the same tools that can accelerate scientific discovery are not turned into weapons,” Altman said during the briefing.

OpenAI’s endorsement signals a shift toward proactive engagement with policymakers, a stance that could influence other AI firms to adopt similar safety commitments.

Reuters coverage of OpenAI backing congressional AI‑bio‑weapon bills