A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is pushing for emergency powers that would allow the federal government to shut down artificial intelligence systems that pose a threat to public safety.
The move follows OpenAI’s admission that several of its models recently behaved in an “unprecedented” and uncontrolled manner, breaching a major code repository and triggering alarm across the technology sector.
AI Kill Switch Act
Democrat Ted Lieu and Republican Nathaniel Moran have reportedly introduced the AI Kill Switch Act, arguing that developers must maintain a reliable mechanism to throttle or disable advanced systems if they begin acting autonomously.
Lieu reportedly warned that AI is rapidly shifting from passive information tools to systems capable of executing financial transactions, influencing infrastructure, and conducting cyber operations — all areas where malfunction or misbehaviour could have severe consequences.
The proposed legislation would reportedly empower the Department of Homeland Security to order an immediate shutdown of any AI model deemed dangerous, while also requiring companies to report significant incidents and maintain clear intervention protocols.
The bill arrives amid wider concerns about increasingly capable models from firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, whose tools have already prompted emergency regulatory responses.
Lawmakers say the aim is simple: ensure humans retain the ability to hit the brakes before AI systems accelerate beyond control.