OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading artificial intelligence (AI) research companies, have announced their intention to slow down the development of their most powerful AI models. They argue that this slowdown is necessary to ensure safety and prevent potential harm from advanced AI systems. However, legal experts have raised concerns that this coordinated approach could violate U.S. antitrust laws, particularly the Sherman Act, which prohibits agreements between competitors that reduce competition or restrict production. Legal specialists warn that the way OpenAI and Anthropic have framed their slowdown could place them in regulatory jeopardy. According to John Bergmayer, a legal advisor for Public Knowledge, the companies' phrasing could be seen as an agreement to limit the pace of innovation, which is a key concern under antitrust law. Competition economists typically focus on whether an agreement reduces the overall output in a sector, rather than the intent behind it. Bergmayer suggests that the companies could have instead emphasized joint efforts to create safety standards, with the slowdown in releases being a natural outcome of such collaboration. Mark Zuckerberg of Meta has not endorsed the call for a coordinated slowdown, instead arguing that companies have a strong incentive to self-regulate to avoid falling behind in a competitive market. David Lawrence, a former antitrust official, noted that agreements aimed at preventing catastrophic risks can be protected under the "ancillary restraints" doctrine, which allows certain restrictions on competition if they are necessary for a legitimate primary objective, such as safety. However, Roger Alford, a law professor and former antitrust official, warned that if the slowdown is perceived as an agreement to avoid improving safety features, it could lead to legal challenges similar to those faced by automotive companies in Europe. OpenAI and Anthropic are both preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs), with Anthropic planning to go public in October and OpenAI delaying its IPO to 2027 due to safety concerns. These developments have drawn attention from both legal and political figures. President Donald Trump has emphasized the government's regulatory power over AI companies, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has indicated that any antitrust investigation into the slowdown would be a "conduct" investigation, which can last for years and involve extensive document reviews and witness testimony. Without clear regulatory guidance or an antitrust exemption, AI companies may have to navigate these legal uncertainties while balancing safety and competition.