In a landmark move poised to reshape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) governance and innovation, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has announced the transformation of the U.S. AI Safety Institute into the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI). The shift, directed by President Donald Trump, signifies a bold step toward empowering American innovation while securing national interests.

Speaking in Washington, Lutnick emphasized that the revamped agency will prioritize pro-innovation, pro-science approaches to AI regulation and oversight. The Center aims to harness AI’s full economic and national security potential without being hampered by what Lutnick called “censorship and overregulation under the guise of national security.”

“Innovators will no longer be limited by outdated standards,” Lutnick stated. “CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation in rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards.”

The Mission and Scope of CAISI
CAISI will act as the primary liaison between the U.S. Government and the AI industry, facilitating collaboration on testing, research, and risk mitigation of commercial AI technologies. Under the umbrella of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the center will:

Develop Guidelines & Best Practices: In collaboration with NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory, CAISI will help shape voluntary industry standards to strengthen AI security and effectiveness.

Conduct Security-Focused Evaluations: It will lead unclassified assessments of AI systems, especially those that could impact cybersecurity, biosecurity, and chemical safety.

Assess International AI Competition: CAISI will monitor the capabilities of foreign AI systems, analyze adoption trends, and identify potential threats from adversarial technologies.

Detect Malicious AI Behavior: The center will investigate vulnerabilities such as backdoors or hidden features embedded in foreign-developed systems.

Coordinate with Federal Agencies: Including the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security, as well as the Intelligence Community, to shape evaluation methods and safeguard national interests.

Represent U.S. Globally: CAISI will promote U.S. leadership in international AI standards and push back against restrictive foreign regulations that could hinder American technological growth.

A Strategic Global Outlook
The launch of CAISI represents not just a national policy shift, but a strategic global positioning of the United States in the fast-evolving AI arms race. As nations worldwide scramble to harness AI’s power, the U.S. is betting on openness, scientific excellence, and industrial collaboration to lead the charge.

By grounding its efforts in innovation and voluntary partnerships with the private sector, CAISI signals a decisive pivot in U.S. AI policy—one aimed at preserving freedom to innovate while vigilantly safeguarding national interests.

CAISI will remain under the administration of NIST and maintain close ties with other Commerce Department bureaus, including the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).