Commerce Department Launches New Center to Guide AI Standards and Security
Commerce Department Launches New Center to Guide AI Standards and Security
On June 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the creation of the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), a new initiative within the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The center will replace the U.S. AI Safety Institute and lead national and international efforts to establish AI standards.
CAISI is intended to support the advancement of AI while addressing key security concerns. By leveraging the Department’s scientific and technical resources, the center will help the federal government assess AI systems developed both domestically and abroad and better understand their implications for national competitiveness. Working in partnership with industry, CAISI will develop voluntary testing standards and conduct research in critical areas such as cybersecurity, biosecurity, and the responsible use of emerging AI technologies. It will also review foreign-developed systems to evaluate potential impacts on U.S. interests.
In its announcement, the Department emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with national security:
“For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security. Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards. CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards.”
The center will coordinate with agencies including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community. It will also serve as the U.S. representative in international discussions on AI governance. While continuing the foundation laid by its predecessor, CAISI introduces a broader mission focused on long-term leadership and strategic security in the AI space.
CAISI is intended to support the advancement of AI while addressing key security concerns. By leveraging the Department’s scientific and technical resources, the center will help the federal government assess AI systems developed both domestically and abroad and better understand their implications for national competitiveness. Working in partnership with industry, CAISI will develop voluntary testing standards and conduct research in critical areas such as cybersecurity, biosecurity, and the responsible use of emerging AI technologies. It will also review foreign-developed systems to evaluate potential impacts on U.S. interests.
In its announcement, the Department emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with national security:
“For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security. Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards. CAISI will evaluate and enhance U.S. innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards.”
The center will coordinate with agencies including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community. It will also serve as the U.S. representative in international discussions on AI governance. While continuing the foundation laid by its predecessor, CAISI introduces a broader mission focused on long-term leadership and strategic security in the AI space.
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