OpenAI, the California-based artificial intelligence company behind the ChatGPT chatbot, has publicly endorsed three pieces of legislation moving through the US Congress that aim to tighten oversight of biological data and mitigate the growing concern that AI tools could be exploited to design biological weapons.
In a statement confirmed to media outlets, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company supports the Web of Biological Data Act, the AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act, and the Scale Biology Act. The endorsement, first reported by Politico, marks one of the most prominent endorsements by a major tech firm on legislation squarely aimed at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biological safety.
The Web of Biological Data Act seeks to establish a framework for responsible sharing and access to biological information, including genetic sequences and other molecular data that could potentially be misused. The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act aims to create technical standards ensuring that biological datasets are appropriately tagged and structured so that AI systems can be trained responsibly and flagged when handling sensitive material. The Scale Biology Act focuses on expanding domestic capacity for biological research while embedding security safeguards into large-scale biological operations.
OpenAI has faced increasing scrutiny over how its powerful AI models could be weaponized or misused. The company has previously called for government action on AI risks, including testimony before Congress and public statements warning about dual-use technologies — tools that have both civilian and military applications. The biological domain has become a particular focus as researchers and policymakers have raised alarms that generative AI could lower the barrier for bad actors to design toxins, viruses, or other harmful agents.
The three bills reflect a growing bipartisan effort in Washington to address emerging threats at the crossroads of technology and national security. While specific provisions of each bill remain under legislative debate, industry support from a company as influential as OpenAI is likely to add weight to their prospects.
Analysts note that the timing is significant, coming amid ongoing international discussions about how existing biological weapons treaties should adapt to modern technological capabilities. The endorsements also position OpenAI as a stakeholder willing to engage directly with policy-making rather than waiting for regulation to be imposed on the industry.
