Massachusetts regulators won Anthropic’s backing in late June for draft rules that would force leading AI companies to hire independent evaluators to assess catastrophic risks, including potential bioweapons uses.
Anthropic says transparency and self-reporting are no longer enough as models grow more powerful; it cited testing showing Claude Mythos could exploit security flaws across every major computer operating system.
Those cybersecurity concerns already triggered Trump administration export controls on Mythos and its public-facing version, Fable, until Anthropic and the government addressed alleged vulnerabilities.
Illinois this month became the first state to mandate annual third-party audits of major AI companies’ safety plans, but Anthropic says the Massachusetts proposal goes further by adding catastrophic-risk reviews and attorney-general enforcement.
OpenAI is still reviewing the Massachusetts language after backing stricter Illinois legislation, underscoring a widening state-by-state fight over AI safety rules that now extends into campaign spending.
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Massachusetts’ Landmark AI Law: Mandatory Independent Catastrophic Risk Audits and the New Standard for U.S. AI Regulation
Overview
Massachusetts is leading the way in AI regulation by advancing strict new protocols designed to address severe risks posed by advanced AI systems. This proactive approach reflects a growing consensus among experts and policymakers about the need for robust oversight. The regulations focus on catastrophic risks, such as the potential for AI misuse that could cause widespread harm or threaten public safety and national security. Real-world examples show that even publicly available AI models can be misused for malicious purposes, highlighting the urgency of these measures. The state's efforts have gained support from major AI developers like Anthropic, signaling industry recognition of the importance of strong safeguards.