Classified Estimates Show the NSA Is Paying Billions to Test AI Models
Classified estimates say the NSA is spending billions this year testing frontier AI models for security risks.
Sources familiar with classified estimates say the NSA is spending billions of dollars this year evaluating advanced AI models, leading lawmakers to fear broader federal oversight could cost tens of billions annually. Earlier CBO scores put related proposals far lower: about $20 million a year for one AI risk center bill and $36 million over five years for a reporting system. The NSA Artificial Intelligence Security Center began testing frontier models after high-profile hacking and security incidents, with compute and hiring as the main costs. Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are reportedly discussing their own safety standards body, which some experts reject as self-policing.