Can a Safety Pact Slow AI—or Is It Just a Cartel?

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk floated a three-step plan to pace the frontier—embed third-party auditors, regulate domestic labs, and pursue a global slowdown—sparking debate over whether it’s a genuine safety measure or a cartel to curb competition and hinder open-source innovation. Some see potential safety gains if enforced, but critics warn of safety-washing and lack of teeth, especially without government action. With RSI fears and China’s cooperation uncertain, the path forward depends on verifiable, enforceable commitments and international coordination that may or may not materialize.