Former Department of Justice Antitrust Division head Jonathan Kanter rejected industry requests for antitrust exemptions to coordinate on artificial intelligence safety. He argued that technology firms can ensure product security independently without engaging in collusive practices. "If you build cars that explode while you’re driving, it’s not the other car company’s fault and you don’t need to come together and figure out how to solve those problems," Jonathan Kanter said.

CEOs of major AI companies have requested antitrust exemptions to coordinate on safety issues. These executives have also called for slowing down development and developing regulation to address potential risks associated with rapid technological advancement.

Kanter addressed these proposals in a podcast interview on September 19, 2026. He compared the current regulatory environment to early automotive history to illustrate why coordination is unnecessary for safety outcomes.

"The state of the world right now is like we’ve invented cars and trucks, but we have no lines on the road, no traffic lights and no stop signs and no speed limits," Kanter said. He used this analogy to describe the lack of established rules governing AI deployment.

Despite the absence of formal guidelines, Kanter maintained that individual corporate responsibility remains sufficient. "These companies do not need to coordinate in order to deliver safe and secure products to society," he said.

The antitrust case against Google resulted in a victory for the Department of Justice. The agency also secured a victory in its case against Ticketmaster. The antitrust case against Apple remains active in the Department of Justice under the Trump administration as of September 19, 2026.

Kanter currently holds academic positions related to law and technology policy. He is a professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves as a professor of technology policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Concerns about AI safety have prompted personnel changes at major research laboratories. Researchers at AI labs including Anthropic and Google DeepMind have resigned, stating that AI models pose real threats and safety is not being taken seriously. Google DeepMind is an artificial intelligence company owned by Google.

Dario Amodei is associated with Anthropic and has advocated for measured progress in the sector. Amodei uses the phrase "pace the frontier" to describe slowing AI development.

Why It Matters

The debate over antitrust exemptions shows a tension between competition enforcement and safety coordination in the AI sector. Industry leaders argue that collaboration is necessary to mitigate existential risks, while former enforcers contend that existing legal frameworks already support independent safety improvements.

Resignations from researchers at prominent labs indicate internal disagreements regarding safety protocols. The involvement of former government officials and current academic experts suggests the issue will remain a focal point for policy discussions as cases like the one against Apple continue through the legal system.