Commerce Department's AI safety director resigns after just three months in post

The Commerce Department said Monday that the head of its Center for AI Standards and Innovation has resigned his post after just three months in the role, and a new director is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The center's director, Chris Fall, was appointed to the role in April, following the administration reorganization of the agency, which was formerly known as the U.S. AI Safety Institute, according to Axios.

Commerce spokesperson Kristen Eichamer told the outlet that National Institute of Standards and Technology Director Dr. Arvind Raman will serve as acting director of CAISI after Fall's departure, until a new director is named. 

CAISI serves as one of the government’s primary testing agencies for AI systems, evaluating models’ capabilities and risks regarding cybersecurity, biosecurity and chemical weapons.

Before joining the Commerce Department, Fall served as the director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science during President Donald Trump's first term and has also held roles in the Office of Naval Research and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.