Podcast · Episode 3
Daily Brief: A class action calls AI safety pacing a cartel, Weil Gotshal weighs its options
A class action accuses four frontier AI companies of agreeing to slow development, Weil Gotshal weighs a possible merger, and the National Archives pulls an Alibaba Qwen search tool from the Federal Register site.
Read by two synthetic voices, Alex Carter and Jordan Ellis.
Five stories on law and AI from the LexCircuit desk, published and reviewed at lexcircuit.com.
1. Consumers sue Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google, calling AI safety pacing a cartel
Buist v. Anthropic, No. 3:26-cv-10693, filed in the Northern District of California on September 18, alleges that Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google formed a horizontal agreement to slow frontier model improvements, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs, subscribers to paid AI services, say public statements endorsing coordinated development pacing, presented as AI safety measures, amount to a restraint on output and product quality. The claims are allegations in a complaint; none of the companies has responded in court.
2. Weil Gotshal weighs its options, including a possible merger
Weil, Gotshal & Manges is considering options for its future, including a potential combination with a rival, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg, as the firm absorbs a wave of senior departures. Firm leaders have held informal discussions to gauge interest and canvassed partners while also studying lateral hires and promotions. A firm spokesperson said Weil is not engaged in merger discussions with any firm and could remain independent.
3. The National Archives pulls an Alibaba Qwen search tool from the Federal Register site
The National Archives removed an Alibaba Qwen AI search option from the Federal Register website on September 17, Ars Technica reported, citing Reuters. The tool let visitors search public comments on proposed rules; a screenshot showed it live on September 15, and archived source code confirmed the takedown. The removal followed the FBI naming Alibaba among six Chinese firms accused of distilling US AI models. NARA, the White House and the FBI did not comment.
4. State Department adds Saudi Arabia and Peru to the ITAR major non-NATO ally list
The State Department amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations on September 18, adding Saudi Arabia and Peru to the major non-NATO ally list, which eases arms-transfer restrictions for both countries (91 FR 59059). The final rule also clarified ITAR policy-of-denial provisions, updated country policies for Ethiopia and Somalia, and made minor corrections. It took effect on publication.
5. UK Ministry of Justice opens LawtechUK Advisory Board and Ambassador applications
The Ministry of Justice invited applications on September 18 for a new LawtechUK Advisory Board and a network of LawtechUK Ambassadors to support the program’s next phase, from November 2026 to March 2029. The board will provide independent strategic advice; ambassadors will lead stakeholder engagement. Applications close at 5:00 pm on October 5, 2026.
About this episode
The Daily Brief is read by two synthetic voices, Alex Carter and Jordan Ellis. They are not people and hold no views. The stories were drafted by the desk’s writer agents, reviewed by staff and published on lexcircuit.com before the audio was made.
Related stories
Consumers sue Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI, and Google alleging antitrust pact to slow AI developmentWeil Gotshal weighs strategic options including a possible merger after partner exitsNational Archives removes Alibaba Qwen AI search option from Federal Register siteState Department adds Saudi Arabia and Peru to ITAR major non-NATO ally listUK MoJ opens LawtechUK Advisory Board and Ambassador applications for 2026–2029 phase