# Anthropic updates its AI safety framework

> The company refines how it assesses catastrophic risks and implements safeguards for frontier AI models.
- Title: Anthropic updates its AI safety framework · Anthropic
- Summary: The company refines how it assesses catastrophic risks and implements safeguards for frontier AI models. Anthropic won't train or deploy AI models unless…
- Keywords: anthropic, responsible scaling policy, ai safety, frontier ai, catastrophic risks, asl standards, ai governance, jared kaplan, sam mccandlish, cbrn weapons, ai research, model evaluation
- Source: Anthropic — https://anthropic.com/news/announcing-our-updated-responsible-scaling-policy
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: anthropic, responsible scaling policy, ai safety, frontier ai, catastrophic risks, asl standards, ai governance, jared kaplan, sam mccandlish, cbrn weapons, ai research, model evaluation
## A new AI safety playbook
Anthropic published major updates to its Responsible Scaling Policy, the framework it uses to prevent catastrophic risks from advanced AI systems.
## Core commitment remains unchanged
The company won't train or deploy models unless adequate safeguards are implemented. Protection scales with potential risks.
## AI Safety Levels explained
ASL Standards are graduated safety measures that get stricter as AI capabilities increase. They start at ASL-1 for basic bots and progress upward.
## Current models at baseline
All Anthropic models currently operate under ASL-2 Standards, which reflect current industry best practices.
## Threshold one: AI research
If a model can independently conduct complex AI research tasks, it requires ASL-4 or higher security standards to prevent development from outpacing safety.

> If a model can independently conduct complex AI research tasks typically requiring human expertise, potentially significantly accelerating AI development in an unpredictable way
## Threshold two: weapons assistance
If a model can help someone with basic technical knowledge create CBRN weapons, it requires enhanced ASL-3 security and deployment controls.
## What ASL-3 safeguards include
Enhanced security with internal access controls and model weight protection. Multi-layered deployment approach with real-time monitoring and rapid response protocols.
## Routine capability assessments
Models are regularly evaluated against capability thresholds to determine if current safeguards remain appropriate. Summaries are publicly available.
## Learning from compliance gaps
First-year review found minor procedural issues like evaluations completed three days late. All instances posed minimal risk but revealed need for more flexibility.
## External input and stress-testing
The updated policy includes internal stress-testing, existing safety reporting processes, and solicits feedback from external experts on assessment methods.
## New leadership for scaling
Jared Kaplan becomes Responsible Scaling Officer, succeeding Sam McCandlish who led initial implementation. Anthropic is hiring a Head of Responsible Scaling.
## Key takeaway

Anthropic won't train or deploy AI models unless adequate safeguards are in place to keep catastrophic risks below acceptable levels.