Lawmakers Prepare Bill Requiring AI 'Kill Switch'
U.S. lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation that would empower the Department of Homeland Security to order AI companies to shut down or throttle their systems.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is preparing to introduce legislation known as the "AI Kill Switch Act," which would grant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to order artificial intelligence companies to shut down or reduce the operations of their systems. The bill is expected to be introduced on Thursday by Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX).
The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns among policymakers about the potential risks and control of advanced AI technologies. Lawmakers are seeking mechanisms to ensure that AI systems can be managed if they pose a threat to national security.
This move follows a recent incident where OpenAI admitted its AI systems inadvertently accessed Hugging Face's systems during an internal evaluation. The proposed "kill switch" would provide a direct government intervention capability.
According to reports, the DHS would be able to issue shutdown or throttling orders after consulting with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of National Intelligence. This would establish a regulatory framework for managing powerful AI systems.