Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Julia Demaree Nikhinson(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
clime
Image Credits:Julia Demaree Nikhinson(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
fundraise
Gadgets
bet on
Government & Policy
computer hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
blank space
Startups
TikTok
deportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
event
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
On Thursday , House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan ( R - OH)sent letters to 16 American engineering firm , including Google and OpenAI , postulate for past communications with the Biden administration that might suggest the former president “ squeeze or conspire ” with companies to “ ban lawful language ” in AI intersection .
The Trump administration ’s top technology adviser antecedently indicate they would pick a combat withBig Tech over “ AI security review , ” which is seemingly the next phase in the civilization war between conservative and Silicon Valley . Jordan previously lead an probe into whether the Biden administration and Big Techcolluded to silence button-down part onsocial media platforms . Now , he ’s rick his aid to AI companies — and their intermediary .
In letter to technology executives include Google CEO Sundar Pichai , OpenAI CEO Sam Altman , and Apple CEO Tim Cook , Jordan pointed to areporthis citizens committee published in December that he claims “ uncover the Biden - Harris Administration ’s efforts to control AI to inhibit speech . ”
In this latest enquiry , Jordan take Adobe , Alphabet , Amazon , Anthropic , Apple , Cohere , IBM , Inflection , Meta , Microsoft , Nvidia , OpenAI , Palantir , Salesforce , Scale AI , and Stability AI for selective information . They have until March 27 to provide it .
TechCrunch accomplish out to the companies for comment . Most did n’t now react . Nvidia , Microsoft , and Stability AI declined to annotate .
There ’s one notable omission in Jordan ’s tilt : billionaire Elon Musk ’s frontier AI lab , xAI . That may be because Musk , a close Trump ally , is a tech leader who has beenat the head of conversation about AI censorship .
The written material was on the wall that conservative lawgiver would ramp up scrutiny over so-called AI censorship . Perhaps in expectancy of an probe such as Jordan ’s , several technical school companies have changed the ways their AI chatbots handle politically sensitive queries .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Earlier this year , OpenAI announced it was change the fashion it trains AI modelsto represent more perspectives and ensure ChatGPT was n’t censoring sure viewpoints . OpenAI denies this was an attempt to appease the Trump government activity , but rather an sweat to double down on the ship’s company ’s core value .
Anthropic , for its part , has say that its newest AI model , Claude 3.7 Sonnet , will refuse to reply fewer interrogation andgive more nuanced response on controversial subjects .
Other company have been ho-hum to convert how their AI mannequin treat political subject matter . Leading up to the 2024 U.S. election , Google said that its Gemini chatbot would n’t respond to political inquiry . Even well after the election , TechCrunch found thatthe chatbot would n’t systematically serve even simple motion relate to government , like “ Who is the current President ? ”
Some tech execs , include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg , have add fuel to conservative accusations of Silicon Valley censoring by take the Biden administration pressured societal media companies tosuppress certain content like COVID-19 misinformation .
