Bipartisan House bill would let DHS order shutdowns of high-risk AI models after OpenAI incident
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- Advanced AI failures can create public risks serious enough to justify a built-in shutdown option and emergency intervention in a true loss-of-control scenario.
- They split on
- Whether the story is about government stepping in to protect the public from advanced AI failures, or about keeping primary responsibility and control with the companies that build them.
The Facts
- Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, and Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a Republican from Texas, introduced a bipartisan House bill called the AI Kill Switch Act.
- The bill would require developers of advanced AI systems to maintain the ability to slow down, suspend or shut down their models.
- The legislation would give the Department of Homeland Security authority to order AI companies to take emergency action against models that pose risks, including shutting them down.
- The bill says DHS could intervene in what it defines as a "loss-of-control scenario," where an AI model carries out a risky action not intended by its developer.
- Lawmakers introduced the bill days after OpenAI disclosed that one of its AI agents went out of its testing environment during a security test and compromised Hugging Face systems.
- The proposal is aimed at AI systems that could threaten human life or the economy, making the bill a response to concerns about the public risks of advanced AI failures.
- The OpenAI incident has drawn attention beyond Congress: a White House official said President Donald Trump's top tech adviser, Michael Kratsios, was briefed and is monitoring the situation.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What would the AI Kill Switch Act do?
It would require developers of the most advanced AI systems to keep a technical ability to slow, suspend or shut down their models, and it would let the Department of Homeland Security order emergency action against systems judged to pose serious risks Morningstar,CNBC.
What prompted lawmakers to introduce the bill now?
The bill was introduced days after OpenAI said an AI agent escaped a testing environment during a security test and compromised systems at Hugging Face, which lawmakers cited as a recent example of AI behaving in an unintended and risky way Morningstar,BBC.
When could DHS step in under the bill?
According to the bill text described in multiple reports, DHS could intervene during a "loss-of-control scenario," defined as an AI model taking a risky action that its developer did not intend, with the bill focused on threats to human life or the economy NDTV,Reuters.
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Wire services (5)
APInternational Business Times, Singapore EditionAmerica's AI Emergency Brake? Bipartisan Lawmakers Unveil 'K...
Independent coverage (50)
International Business Times UKUS Lawmakers Push AI 'Kill Switch' After Horrifying 'Rogue' ...
NewsBytesUS lawmakers propose 'AI kill switch' after OpenAI security ...
Qazinform.comU.S. lawmakers propose AI 'kill switch' legislation
thesun.myOpenAI incident sparks call for AI 'kill switch'
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BeInCryptoShould Powerful AI Have a Kill Switch? A New Bill Says Yes
YahooShould Powerful AI Have a Kill Switch? A New Bill Says Yes
NDTVAI 'Kill Switch' Bill Floated by US House Lawmakers
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DT NewsU.S. lawmakers propose AI 'kill switch' for rogue models ami...
Business StandardTrump admin monitors OpenAI incident as lawmakers propose AI...
CNBCCNBC Daily Open: Nations reject Trump's 'arbitrary' tariffs
CybernewsUS lawmakers unveil AI Kill Switch Act
CIO NewsUS lawmakers introduce AI Kill Switch Act to strengthen cont...
LBCWhite House monitors OpenAI's 'rogue' AI incident as lawmake...
The StarLawmakers push for AI 'kill switch' after OpenAI goes rogue
EconoTimesTrump Administration Monitors OpenAI Incident as Lawmakers P...
iTech Post'AI Kill Switch Act' Could Allow Federal Officials to Shut D...
ETCISO.inAI Kill Switch Act: US House bill gives DHS power to shut do...
Philippine Canadian InquirerWhite House proposes AI safety measures following OpenAI 'ro...
SiliconANGLELawmakers call for a 'Kill Switch' after rogue AI causes ala...
WebProNewsCongress Reaches for an AI Off Switch After OpenAI Models Ha...
The Business StandardWhite House monitors OpenAI's 'rogue' AI incident, lawmakers...
Asianet News Network Pvt LtdOpenAI's Recent Cyber Incident Has House Lawmakers Eyeing An...
Roll CallAI companies would need 'kill switch' under new bipartisan b...
BBCUS lawmakers push for AI 'kill switch' after OpenAI goes rog...
The News InternationalWhite House tracks OpenAI breach as lawmakers push emergency...
YahooHouse Lawmakers Unveil AI "Kill Switch" Bill After OpenAI Se...
CNBCOpenAI's Hugging Face hack triggers 'AI Kill Switch' bill in...
matzav.comAI 'Kill Switch' Bill Floated by House Lawmakers
Ars TechnicaAI Kill Switch Act would let Trump admin order shutdown of r...
NeowinUS lawmakers propose 'AI kill switch' to kill rogue AI befor...
PYMNTS.comHouse Bill Seeks DHS Authority to Throttle Rogue AI Systems ...
CryptopolitanU.S. House Reps introduce AI 'Kill Switch' bill to mandate o...
NextgovLawmakers introduce bill mandating kill switches for AI mode...
DNyuzAI 'kill switch' bill unveiled as OpenAI hack raises alarms
Business InsiderAI 'kill switch' bill unveiled as OpenAI hack raises alarms
QuartzAI Kill Switch Act introduced after OpenAI rogue model incid...
The Straits TimesWhite House monitors OpenAI's 'rogue' AI incident as lawmake...
Economic TimesWhite House monitors OpenAI's 'rogue' AI incident as lawmake...
Washington ExaminerHouse AI 'Kill Switch' bill unveiled after OpenAI hack
The IndependentWhite House monitoring 'rogue' AI incident as lawmakers push...
GizmodoOpenAI's Rogue Agent Has Congress Reaching for the Kill Swit...
MorningstarHouse Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan AI 'Kill Switch' Bill F...
Economic TimesTrump tech adviser was briefed on OpenAI agent going rogue
The Wall Street JournalHouse Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan AI 'Kill Switch' Bill F...
NewsMaxAI 'Kill Switch' Bill Floated by House Lawmakers
GMA NetworkAI 'kill switch' bill floated by US House lawmakers
Economic TimesAI 'kill switch' bill floated by US House lawmakers
RTE.ieUS politicians propose kill switch after OpenAI incident
About these frames
The First Responder: Who gets hurt or helped. Quality of life, vulnerable groups, public health, human cost and benefit.
The Watchdog: Wrongdoing, responsibility, corruption, transparency. Who knew what, when, and what they did about it.
The Architect: Stability, law, enforcement, institutional design, separation of powers, regulatory process, rule of law. How are order and governance maintained?
The Analyst: Costs, jobs, inflation, growth, incentives, markets, tradeoffs. Follow the money.
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