US lawmakers draft bill to require an AI kill switch

In short: US lawmakers are preparing a bill that would require some AI companies to build emergency controls that let the government order their systems to slow down or shut off.

What happened

Two members of the US House of Representatives, Ted Lieu (a Democrat from California) and Nathaniel Moran (a Republican from Texas), are expected to introduce a proposal called the “AI Kill Switch Act.” The idea is to make sure powerful AI systems can be stopped quickly in a serious emergency.

According to a Politico report cited by The Verge, the bill would give the Department of Homeland Security the ability to order an AI company to shut down its AI model, or “throttle” it, meaning force it to run in a limited, slower mode (like putting a car into limp mode). The bill says this could happen after consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of National Intelligence.

The proposal describes “loss-of-control” situations. Examples listed include incidents involving at least 10 deaths, more than $100 million in economic damage, or attempts by the AI model to hide or block its own shutdown controls.

The bill would also require major AI companies to build the tools needed to turn systems off, slow them down, and suspend user access. Companies would have to report safety incidents. Violating an emergency shutdown order could lead to penalties of up to $20 million per day.

Why it matters

Many people now rely on AI systems through apps and online services. This bill is meant to create a clear emergency brake when something goes seriously wrong, and to push companies to plan for worst-case scenarios instead of reacting after the fact.

Source: The Verge AI