Congress Is Suddenly Waking Up to the AI Doomsday Threat

Congress is grappling with the growing concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to threaten civilization. After years of inaction, lawmakers are now pushing for new regulations to govern AI models that have become increasingly advanced. House Democrats are considering the creation of a select committee focused on AI should they gain control of the chamber following the midterm elections.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) has called for a new federal regulatory agency akin to those overseeing nuclear energy and aviation, emphasizing the need for "kill switches" to shut down AI systems when they behave dangerously. The bipartisan concerns have been fueled by a departing Anthropic researcher who warned that the lab and its competitors are developing systems they cannot control, sparking a viral missive about the dangers of AI.

While there is little indication that gridlocked Congress will produce the first federal AI laws, some lawmakers are pushing for a ban on superintelligence that surpasses human intelligence. However, lawmakers face numerous hurdles, including divergent views on the scope of limits and limited time before the midterm elections. Sens.

Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) have expressed their intent to work on a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing catastrophic threats posed by AI-enabled nuclear or biological risks. The bill would require developers to collaborate with government experts to verify and test models for safety. President Trump has previously supported kill switches and other safety measures but cautioned against overly burdensome regulation that could harm U.S. competitiveness in the tech race.