Reps Lieu and Moran Introduce Bill to Require Kill Switch for AI Systems That Can Cause Catastrophic Harm

Reps Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX introduced the AI Kill Switch Act that would require developers of the most powerful AI systems to maintain the technical capability to throttle, suspend, or shut them down. The act also authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of National Intelligence, to order a slowdown or shutdown of an AI system that can cause catastrophic harm. The AI Kill Switch Act would: 

• Require covered developers to maintain the technical ability to throttle, suspend, or fully shut down a covered AI system. 

• Authorize and establish a graduated response framework so that the government’s tools match the severity of the incident, from initial slow down to a full shutdown. 

• Require incident reporting and preserve forensic records so we actually learn from failures instead of only hearing about them after the fact.