--- title: "Altman Wants an AI Truce. The Public May Not Get to Read the Terms." description: "A Senate proposal could protect coordinated safety delays. It would also shield the government notices explaining them from public records requests." publisher: "The Inference" section: "Policy & Labor" published: 2026-09-11T22:40:39.000Z modified: 2026-09-16T16:29:00.367Z canonical: https://theinference.org/article/altman-wants-an-ai-truce-the-public-may-not-get-to-read-the-terms language: en keywords: "Policy, OpenAI, Anthropic, Regulation" --- # Altman Wants an AI Truce. The Public May Not Get to Read the Terms. > A Senate proposal could protect coordinated safety delays. It would also shield the government notices explaining them from public records requests. ## He left before the payday Jacob Coxon says he left Anthropic before his equity vested.[1] His [resignation on X](https://x.com/hilbertspaess/status/2097476203863224394) had passed **100 million views** by September 9. That figure is a dated observation from the reporting, not a live count.[2] ## Who controls the slowdown Sam Altman discussed pacing OpenAI's development alongside willing rivals, according to a September 11 staff-meeting report.[3] OpenAI also asked Congress whether coordination would be legal, according to September 10 reporting. The stakes include who sets the limits and what the public can learn about them.[4] ## The notices would stay behind closed doors [S. 5105](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s5105is/html/BILLS-119s5105is.htm), introduced July 23, offers a possible route. It would protect certain coordinated safety delays from antitrust liability, subject to conditions including advance notice to the [Justice Department](https://www.justice.gov/atr).[5] **[Section 3(e)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s5105is/html/BILLS-119s5105is.htm) would exempt those notices, and information revealing their contents, from public Freedom of Information Act disclosure.** It would not prohibit voluntary publication. The bill does not establish that OpenAI has sought this secrecy provision. [5] ## Billions behind the brake OpenAI told investors quarterly revenue rose from $5.7 billion in Q1 to $6.7 billion in Q2 2026.[6] Separate August 13 reporting put its annualized revenue pace above **$40 billion**. That extrapolation is not money already earned over a year.[7] *Chart: Column chart of OpenAI quarterly revenue: $5.7 billion in Q1 2026 rising to $6.7 billion in Q2 2026. Company-claimed, unaudited.* *Revenue shows the business exposed to new limits. It is not a measure of research speed, profitability, or safety. Company-claimed and unaudited; reported August 18, 2026.* Revenue shows the business exposed to new limits. It cannot establish whether research is slowing, or whether any proposed restriction addresses a real risk. ## Secrecy has a case Nvidia's Jensen Huang framed AI fears as cybersecurity salesmanship.[8] Yet OpenAI says it already slowed research after a breach involving its agents. Legal uncertainty can also deter useful collaboration, argues Nicholas Felstead.[9, 10] [The bill](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s5105is/html/BILLS-119s5105is.htm) requires good faith and an exclusive covered security purpose, and permits government injunctions. Confidentiality can protect vulnerability details; public accountability still needs an answer.[5] ## The terms to watch Watch the next bill text and any published pacing agreement for specific triggers, an end date, independent review, and a public explanation. **The next test is who gets to inspect the brake before the labs press it.** ## Takeaway A reported willingness to coordinate is not a signed agreement, and S. 5105 is a proposal rather than law. What is already written into the bill is the part to watch: the notices justifying a coordinated delay would sit outside the Freedom of Information Act, so the public could learn that the brake was pulled without learning why. ## Sources 1. [Axios interview with Jacob Coxon, Sep 9 2026 (single-source testimony).](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/09/anthropic-researcher-ai-warning-interview) 2. [WIRED interview, Sep 9 2026 (X engagement is WIRED's dated observation, not a live count).](https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-researcher-quits-jacob-coxon-ai-fears-humanity/) 3. [Bloomberg Law staff-meeting report, Sep 11 2026 (anonymous sources; a proposal, not a completed industry agreement).](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/openai-is-open-to-slowing-cutting-edge-ai-altman-tells-staff) 4. [WIRED coordination report, Sep 10 2026 (separate original reporting on congressional outreach).](https://www.wired.com/story/openai-wants-to-know-if-an-ai-industry-slowdown-would-even-be-legal/) 5. [S. 5105, introduced text, Jul 23 2026 (primary record; especially sections 3(a)(2), 3(c), 3(e) and 4. A proposal, not enacted law).](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s5105is/html/BILLS-119s5105is.htm) 6. [WSJ quarterly financial reporting, Aug 18 2026 (investor disclosures, not independently audited here).](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openais-second-quarter-sales-show-tepid-growth-compared-with-anthropic-5cb42998) 7. [Bloomberg revenue reporting carried by Yahoo, Aug 13 2026 (run rate is extrapolated, not realized annual revenue; OpenAI declined comment).](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/openai-revenue-run-rate-tops-213604019.html) 8. [Axios conference reporting on Jensen Huang, Sep 10 2026 (single-source).](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/10/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-ai-anthropic) 9. [WIRED incident reporting, Aug 13 2026 (company statements and employee interviews on an earlier response).](https://www.wired.com/story/openai-safety-security-ai-agents-culture/) 10. [Lawfare analysis, Nicholas Felstead, Mar 5 2026 (named expert analysis, not a judicial ruling).](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-antitrust-can-promote-ai-safety-collaborations) --- Altman Wants an AI Truce. The Public May Not Get to Read the Terms. — The Inference. Canonical: https://theinference.org/article/altman-wants-an-ai-truce-the-public-may-not-get-to-read-the-terms