Chris Fall, the director of the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, resigned just three months after taking over the federal AI testing institute, the Commerce Department confirmed on Monday.
Fall was appointed in April to lead CAISI after the administration reorganized the agency formerly known as the US AI Safety Institute. The center is responsible for developing AI testing and evaluation capabilities and supporting standards for advanced AI systems. His abrupt departure comes as the Trump administration grapples with how to deploy AI safely and the agency hashes out standards.
The Commerce Department said NIST Director Dr. Arvind Raman, a former Purdue University engineering dean sworn in on June 30, will serve as acting CAISI director while the department searches for a new permanent leader. A Commerce official said Fall’s appointment was always intended to be temporary and that Raman has been reviewing candidates over the past several weeks.
The office now remains without permanent leadership as the administration debates its next steps on AI standards and oversight. The Commerce Department expects to announce a new director in the coming weeks.
