AI-FRONTIERJuly 23, 20261 min read

Lawmakers prepare bill requiring AI ‘kill switch’

US lawmakers are preparing to introduce the 'AI Kill Switch Act,' which would mandate tech companies to build emergency shutdown controls for powerful AI systems under Department of Homeland Security orders.

Lawmakers are preparing to introduce an “AI Kill Switch Act” that would require AI companies to shut down or throttle their systems on orders from the Department of Homeland Security, according to a report from Politico. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) are expected to introduce the legislation on Thursday.

Lawmakers prepare bill requiring AI ‘kill switch’

The legislation would force tech companies to build controls to shut down or throttle powerful AI systems.

The news of the proposed bill follows OpenAI’s admission that its AI systems mistakenly hacked Hugging Face during an internal evaluation. The bill says that, after consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the DHS would have the ability to order AI companies to shut down their models in “loss-of-control” scenarios involving the deaths of at least 10 people, economic damages of more than $100 million, or attempts by the model to conceal shutdown controls.

At the same time, major AI companies would be required to build the technology required to turn off their systems, slow them down, and suspend user access. They would also have to report safety incidents, with violations of emergency shutdown orders reaching up to $20 million per day.

Brad Carson, the president of the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Innovation, said in a statement that the proposal “is an important step toward ensuring that humans have both hands firmly on the wheel — and a foot ready at the brake — as advanced AI systems are deployed.”

Follow topics and authorsfrom this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

Source: The Verge AI

More in this category

ai-frontier

Apple’s OpenAI lawsuit is about who gets to define the post-smartphone era

Apple has filed a major trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing former employees of soliciting hardware secrets. The legal battle places OpenAI's financial vulnerabilities under intense scrutiny as both tech giants fight for control over the post-smartphone era.

ai-frontier

How AI helps scientists design the next generation of medicines

Artificial intelligence is becoming a core infrastructure in pharmaceutical R&D, helping scientists design complex biologic medicines faster, lower development costs, and target previously untreatable diseases.

ai-frontier

The right-wing boomers protesting data centers have a lot in common with the left

A growing bipartisan backlash against hyperscale data centers is uniting conservative and liberal voters across the United States. Driven by concerns over noise, environmental damage, and national security risks, local opposition is disrupting major political races.

ai-frontier

Remember Jibo? Its Successor Is a Wearable That Turns Your Life Into AI Slop

Lingverse has raised $29 million to build iKairos, an AI wearable and home device inspired by the pioneer social robot Jibo. The device captures real-life moments and converts them into AI-generated memories and journals.

ai-frontier

China’s Open AI Models Are Challenging Silicon Valley’s Playbook

A new wave of competitive Chinese open-source AI models is challenging Silicon Valley's dominance and forcing a reevaluation of closed-source AI strategies.

ai-frontier

Here’s what Samsung’s smart glasses actually look like

Samsung has revealed the first physical looks and key specs of its upcoming smart glasses, featuring a 9-hour battery life and designs co-created with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The device is scheduled for launch this fall.