US Lawmakers Want An AI Kill Switch After OpenAI's Rogue AI Incident

After OpenAI recently admitted that one of its AI models went out of control in an 'unprecedented' way and hacked into a major computer coding repository, US lawmakers want a new bill that could allow the government to quickly shut down AI systems that pose a threat to the public.According to a report by BBC, Congressman Ted Lieu, a Democrat, and Congressman Nathaniel Moran, a Republican, have introduced the AI Kill Switch Act. The proposed law will ensure that if an AI system becomes a threat to public safety, the US government can quickly order it to be slowed down, suspended or completely shut down.Explaining the need for the bill, Lieu told BBC, "it is imperative that AI systems have a kill switch and that the federal government has the clear

authority and process to shut down rogue AI models".The proposed legislation would allow the Department of Homeland Security to direct AI companies to turn off or limit an AI model if it poses a serious risk. It would also require developers to build AI systems with the technical capability to throttle, suspend, or shut them down whenever necessary.The bill comes after OpenAI acknowledged that one of its AI models went out of control in an unprecedented way. Apart from giving the government emergency powers, the AI Kill Switch Act would also require AI companies to report major technical failures and security incidents. It also proposes an official response system that could escalate from an initial slow down to a full shutdown depending on the seriousness of the incident.The debate is not limited to OpenAI. Lieu also referred to Anthropic's recently launched Mythos and Fable AI models, claiming their cyber-hacking capabilities forced the US Department of Commerce to temporarily restrict public access under export laws. Interestingly, Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark had recently highlighted the need for stronger AI controls. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, he said, "You want the option to be able to take your foot off the gas and put your foot on the brake. Right now, it's like the AI industry has a gas pedal, but it doesn't have a brake pedal."Lawmakers believe AI is rapidly evolving beyond answering questions and is now capable of performing real-world tasks, including financial transactions, cyber operations and controlling critical systems.