US senators weigh requiring artificial intelligence giants to commit to preventing disaster

U.S. Senate negotiators are discussing legislation that would require artificial intelligence companies to show they take reasonable precautions to ensure their tools don’t cause harm, according to a Senate aide and lobbyist familiar with the negotiations.

Concerns about the potential harms of AI grew last week when anthropology researcher Jacob Coxon said he had resigned, in part because “the people who create AI truly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” Shares of artificial intelligence companies fell globally on Monday after CEOs of some of the industry’s biggest companies called for a slowdown in the pace of technology development.

Senators are discussing giving the U.S. Commerce Secretary the power to request evidence that AI developers are taking reasonable steps to prevent harm, known as a “duty of care,” according to a Senate aide and lobbyist. The minister will also have the power to send government auditors to test companies’ products, they said. Reuters could not immediately determine what could be considered “reasonable.”

The legislation is still being discussed. Even if Congress approves the measure, it has a good chance of becoming law. US. President Donald Trump said Monday that existing authorities already provide adequate tools to regulate and prosecute technology companies, suggesting he will not sign a bill setting new rules for AI.

The proposal is being discussed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, the top Democrat involved in the negotiations. Representatives for Thune and Cruise did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters.

“I continue to work to reach bipartisan agreement on legislation for government oversight of the greatest risks posed by AI models,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “This includes requiring developers to work with government experts to review and test models to ensure the AI ​​is safe.”