As AI models become more powerful, they can bring immense benefits, but also pose significant safety and security risks if not properly governed. To mitigate these risks, institutions need to develop the technical capacity to evaluate and secure these systems. The Appia Foundation, founded by OpenAI, aims to create open standards for AI development, providing a critical trust layer for third-party assessments. This effort is part of a broader push to strengthen institutions and standards for advanced AI systems, with the goal of creating a shared technical language for national and international cooperation. Why it matters: establishing shared standards for AI development is crucial for building trust and ensuring the safe deployment of advanced AI systems.