# Lehane Says OpenAI Has Been Holding Safety Talks With Anthropic and Google

Times of AI Desk · 2026-09-15 · Policy

[https://timesof.ai/2026/09/openai-lehane-anthropic-google-safety-talks](https://timesof.ai/2026/09/openai-lehane-anthropic-google-safety-talks)

> OpenAI’s Chris Lehane said safety discussions with Anthropic and Google DeepMind had been running for several weeks. He said OpenAI did not see a need for an antitrust waiver; that is the company’s position, not a legal determination.

**OpenAI’s Chris Lehane** said the company had been discussing AI safety with **Anthropic** and **Google DeepMind** for several weeks, Bloomberg reported on September 15.

Lehane, OpenAI’s global policy chief, said the company did not see a need for an antitrust waiver for that coordination. “It’s better to try to work together to prioritize safety,” he said, according to Bloomberg.

That describes OpenAI’s position. It does not establish a legal exemption or determine what forms of cooperation would comply with antitrust law.

## Reporting limits

The accessible opening of Bloomberg’s report supports the talks, their reported duration, and Lehane’s position on a waiver. The remainder is subscription-restricted. TechCrunch also reported the talks, explicitly citing Bloomberg; it is not independent corroboration.

**Correction (October 14, 2026):** Removed the claim of independent corroboration and additional legislative and executive-reaction details that could not be verified in the accessible sources. The antitrust statement is now clearly attributed to OpenAI.

## Sources

- [Bloomberg: OpenAI says it is working with Anthropic and Google on AI safety (September 15, 2026; accessible opening)](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/openai-says-its-working-with-anthropic-google-on-ai-safety)
- [TechCrunch: Talks reported by Bloomberg (September 15, 2026)](https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/15/openai-anthropic-google-have-been-in-talks-on-ai-safety-for-weeks/)