San Diego, CA
OpenAI and Anthropic agree to let U.S. AI Safety Institute test and evaluate new models
- The U.S. AI Safety Institute on Thursday announced it had come to a testing and evaluation agreement with OpenAI and Anthropic.
- The agreement allows the institute to “receive access to major new models from each company prior to and following their public release.”
- A number of AI developers and researchers have recently expressed concerns about safety and ethics in the increasingly for-profit AI industry.
OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the most richly valued artificial intelligence startups, have agreed to let the U.S. AI Safety Institute test their new models before releasing them to the public, following increased concerns in the industry about safety and ethics in AI.
The institute, housed within the Department of Commerce at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), said in a press release that it will get “access to major new models from each company prior to and following their public release.”
The group was established after the Biden-Harris administration issued the U.S. government’s first-ever executive order on artificial intelligence in October 2023, requiring new safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance and research on AI’s impact on the labor market.
“We are happy to have reached an agreement with the US AI Safety Institute for pre-release testing of our future models,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a post on X. OpenAI also confirmed to CNBC on Thursday that, in the past year, the company has doubled its number of weekly active users from late last year to 200 million. Axios was first to report on the number.
The news comes a day after reports surfaced that OpenAI is in talks to raise a funding round valuing the company at more than $100 billion. Thrive Capital is leading the round and will invest $1 billion, according to a source with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential.
Anthropic, founded by ex-OpenAI research executives and employees, was most recently valued at $18.4 billion. Anthropic counts Amazon as a leading investor, while OpenAI is heavily backed by Microsoft.
The agreements between the government, OpenAI and Anthropic “will enable collaborative research on how to evaluate capabilities and safety risks, as well as methods to mitigate those risks,” according to Thursday’s release.
Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, told CNBC in a statement that, “We strongly support the U.S. AI Safety Institute’s mission and look forward to working together to inform safety best practices and standards for AI models.”
Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, said the company’s “collaboration with the U.S. AI Safety Institute leverages their wide expertise to rigorously test our models before widespread deployment” and “strengthens our ability to identify and mitigate risks, advancing responsible AI development.”
A number of AI developers and researchers have expressed concerns about safety and ethics in the increasingly for-profit AI industry. Current and former OpenAI employees published an open letter on June 4, describing potential problems with the rapid advancements taking place in AI and a lack of oversight and whistleblower protections.
“AI companies have strong financial incentives to avoid effective oversight, and we do not believe bespoke structures of corporate governance are sufficient to change this,” they wrote. AI companies, they added, “currently have only weak obligations to share some of this information with governments, and none with civil society,” and they can not be “relied upon to share it voluntarily.”
Days after the letter was published, a source familiar to the mater confirmed to CNBC that the FTC and the Department of Justice were set to open antitrust investigations into OpenAI, Microsoft and Nvidia. FTC Chair Lina Khan has described her agency’s action as a “market inquiry into the investments and partnerships being formed between AI developers and major cloud service providers.”
On Wednesday, California lawmakers passed a hot-button AI safety bill, sending it to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Newsom, a Democrat, will decide to either veto the legislation or sign it into law by Sept. 30. The bill, which would make safety testing and other safeguards mandatory for AI models of a certain cost or computing power, has been contested by some tech companies for its potential to slow innovation.
WATCH: Google, OpenAI and others oppose California AI safety bill
San Diego, CA
California bishop who allegedly made several trips to Mexican brothel arrested at San Diego airport trying to flee US
A high-ranking California Catholic bishop who allegedly took more than a dozen trips to a Mexican brothel known for human trafficking and misused parish funds was arrested at San Diego International Airport while trying to flee the country.
Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, 60, a senior figure in the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, was arrested Thursday by San Diego Sheriff’s deputies following a months-long investigation.
“On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta was contacted and detained at the San Diego International Airport attempting to leave the country,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Shaleta faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white-collar crime, officials said.
The arrest comes after Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported last month that the bishop allegedly diverted rental payments from church property for personal use and later covered his tracks with charity funds.
Over $427,000 is unaccounted for — but the true number could be as high as $1 million, the outlet reported.
The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that it was contacted by someone from St. Peter Chaldean Church in August 2025.
“The church representative provided a statement and documents showing potential embezzlement from the church,” it said, without elaborating.
The Pillar also obtained documents from a Vatican-ordered investigation into Shaleta that alleged the bishop regularly crossed the border from San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico, to visit a strip club.
A private investigator documented Shaleta using a shuttle “exclusive to the club’s patrons” to visit the Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club in Tijuana, the outlet reported.
The Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club operates in Tijuana’s Zona Norte red-light district, an area that has long been scrutinized by law enforcement and anti-trafficking organizations.
Prior reporting has identified the club by name in broader examinations of sex-industry operations in Tijuana.
There is no allegation that Shaleta was involved in trafficking activity.
Shaleta submitted his resignation to the Vatican in January as a result of the Vatican-ordered investigation.
Meanwhile, the priests of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle issued a statement expressing support for Shaleta.
“After hearing all of the critics and attacks against our eparchy and bishop, we ask the Lord to protect our eparchy and bishop from all of the negative attacks. We are in solidarity with our eparchy and bishop,” the statement reads.
“We are awaiting the decision on this matter. Please continue to keep this eparchy in your prayers and remain faithful to the salvific mission of Christ.”
The 60-year-old was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is being held on $125,000 bail.
San Diego, CA
Church Stabbing; Liquid Meth Seizure; Starvation Death Conviction: San Diego County Crime Log
SAN DIEGO, CA — Here is a collection of this week’s police, fire and courtroom stories from across San Diego County.
City Heights Parents Convicted Of Murder For 3-Month Old’s Starvation Death
Copeland and Ucman, who were 21 and 22 years old at the time of the baby’s death, were tried this year in one trial by two separate juries.
Find out what’s happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Ex-La Mesa Math Teacher Sentenced For Sex Crime Involving Underage Student
Michael Davis, 35, who taught at The Learning Choice Academy in La Mesa, was arrested last year.
Find out what’s happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
El Cajon Church Bishop Jailed On Embezzlement Charges
The regional law enforcement agency released no details on the circumstances that led to the allegations.
Man Injured After Pursuit In Stolen Jeep Ends In Crash In East County
Jesus Tizoc-Ocon, 18, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
The trucker died at the scene of the crash, officials said.
Multi-Vehicle Crash Snarls Traffic On I-5 Near Carlsbad
Traffic on southbound Interstate 5 was heavily congested from state Route 78 to Cannon Road, according to the CHP.
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Suspected DUI Crash With Truck In Santee
A bystander and deputies provided first aid and applied a tourniquet to the rider to control bleeding.
Pedestrian Killed While Trying To Cross Highway In Oceanside: Police
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement, officials said.
Coast Guard Stops Boat With 14 Suspected Migrants Off San Diego
The panga-style vessel was stopped about 10 miles southwest of Point Loma, according to USCG officials.
Man Seriously Injured In Stabbing In Downtown Carlsbad
The suspect remains at large.
Boyfriend Arrested In Death Of Woman Found In San Diego Apartment
Officers reported seeing blood in several areas throughout the apartment.
Federal Jury Convicts Ex-San Diego County Deputy In Detainee’s Fatal Shooting
The trial was Aaron Russell’s second in federal court in connection with the shooting.
Man Accused Of Stealing Over $4K From Kohl’s Stores In San Diego County
Detectives found large quantities of stolen clothing when they searched his home and vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
Video Footage Of Non-Fatal La Presa Police Shooting Released
Officer Henry Ingram Jr. of the San Diego Police Department opened fire on Edwaun Walter Thames, 39.
Woman Airlifted To Hospital After Crash On 5 Freeway While She Changed A Tire
The woman was reportedly changing a tire on her car on the right shoulder when a pickup truck struck either her or her car, the CHP said.
Biker Suffers Fractured Femur In Crash With Vehicle In San Diego
A motorcyclist suffered a fractured femur during a crash with a vehicle in the Hillcrest community, authorities said.
E-Bike Rider Struck By Car In San Diego
He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for fractures to his vertebrae, jaw, multiple ribs and left wrist.
Man Fatally Struck By Hit-And-Run Vehicle In San Diego
The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, police said.
Police Investigate Church Stabbing In San Diego
A suspect believed to be in his late 20s was detained at the scene, then taken into custody without further incident, police reported.
San Diego Central Jail Inmate’s Death Ruled Accidental OD
The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded and was conducting an investigation.
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Remarkably, the San Diego State Aztecs can still win a share of the Mountain West title despite losing four of their last five games.
SDSU (19-10, 13-6) needs to beat UNLV (16-14, 11-8) on Friday night in its home finale and then have New Mexico win at Utah State on Saturday for a three-way tie.
The Aztecs had their destiny in their hands less than a week ago, but then lost at New Mexico (13-6) on Saturday and then again at Boise State on Tuesday night, pretty much snuffing out their NCAA Tournament at-large bid chances and apparently ending their hopes at the MW title in their final season in the conference.
But then Utah State (14-5) was routed at UNLV and New Mexico lost at home to Nevada, setting up the possibility of a three-way tie. It’ll be moot, however, if the Aggies beat the Lobos, which will give them the title outright and the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.
That’s life in the MW, which the Aztecs and Aggies are leaving after this season to join the new-look Pac-12, along with Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.
The big picture
The Aztecs were voted the unanimous preseason favorite to win the regular-season title, based on a loaded roster under coach Brian Dutcher, including the return of Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath after pulling out of the NBA Draft, and Reese Dixon-Waters after missing last year with a foot injury.
But it’s been a rough go from almost the start, when a rough showing in the non-conference schedule put them on the bubble for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.
They started to find themselves early in league play by running off a seven-game losing streak, but then lost consecutive games at Grand Canyon and Utah State. Their current skid includes a surprising home loss to Grand Canyon and then a startling road loss to Colorado State.
They routed Utah State at home last week before losing at New Mexico on Saturday and then being routed at Boise State on Tuesday night, when they were outrebounded 37-15.
The last three games were all Quad 1 opportunities in the NCAA NET Rankings, but going 1-2 in those games further hurt their already weak chances at an at-large tourney berth. Those rankings are used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for March Madness.
Now they’ll almost certainly have to win three games in three days at the MW tournament to claim the automatic bid to reach March Madness for the sixth straight year.
Key facts
The Aztecs will be facing UNLV for the final time in the regular season, as the Runnin’ Rebels will be remaining behind in the MW.
The teams will meet for the 86th time overall, with the Aztecs leading the series 45-40. SDSU is 21-14 against the Runnin’ Rebels in San Diego and 18-8 on Steve Fisher Court.
Below is a look at how to watch UNLV at San Diego State
How to watch UNLV at San Diego State
Date: Friday, March 6
Game time: 7 p.m. PT
Where: Viejas Arena | San Diego
How to watch: CBS Sports Network
How to listen: San Diego Sports 760 (local)
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