WorkSeptember 14, 2026via The Decoder
Sam Altman calls for pacing AI development but promises rapid progress will continue
Why it matters
Sam Altman is publicly advocating for slower AI development while OpenAI simultaneously implements safety checkpoints and explores industry self-regulation with rivals—a signal that frontier labs are responding to external pressure (regulation, public concern) even as competition for capability remains intense.
Key signals
- OpenAI now runs safety checks before major training runs
- OpenAI in months-long talks with Anthropic and Google on joint self-regulation
- Altman calling for pacing AI development while promising rapid progress will continue
- Indicates potential regulatory/policy response from industry leadership
- Sam Altman publicly calling for pacing while promising continued rapid progress
- Contradiction: 'slow down' messaging vs. 'rapid progress will continue' commitment
The hook
OpenAI's safety pivot: Altman calls for pacing, but the race continues anyway.
Sam Altman is doubling down on slowing AI development. OpenAI now runs safety checks before major training runs, and according to The Information, the company has been talking with Anthropic and Google for months about joint self-regulation.