Former FTC Technologist Warns Against an AI ‘Cartel’

Former Federal Trade Commission Chief Technologist Neil Chilson warns that government-backed antitrust exemptions for frontier AI labs could enable the formation of a permanent industry cartel. He argues that while these companies claim to focus on safety, such cooperation may stifle competition and entrench market leaders. Chilson suggests that formal collaboration frameworks could inadvertently shield major firms from the competitive pressures that typically drive innovation.