The Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise might hearth as many as 500 staffers, in keeping with 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, can be “gutted” by layoffs concentrating on probationary workers (who’re usually of their first yr or two on the job). And Bloomberg said a few of these workers had already been given verbal discover of upcoming terminations.
Even earlier than the newest layoff reviews, AISI’s future was trying unsure. The institute, which is meant to review dangers and develop requirements round AI growth, was created final yr 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 President Donald Trump repealed that order on his first day again in workplace, and AISI’s director departed earlier in February.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 a number of AI safety and policy organizations who all criticized the reported layoffs.
“These cuts, if confirmed, would severely influence the federal government’s capability to analysis and handle vital AI security issues at a time when such experience is extra very important than ever,” mentioned Jason Inexperienced-Lowe, government director of the Middle for AI Coverage.