Congress faces AI regulation push but unlikely to act before November elections
Lawmakers are debating multiple AI safety bills as researchers warn of existential risks, but the House is unlikely to pass major legislation before the midterm elections.
Washington — After a 2023 meeting where tech CEOs warned of a "civilizational risk" from artificial intelligence, Congress still has not enacted comprehensive AI safeguards. Recent resignations of AI researchers citing fears that advanced systems could threaten humanity have intensified calls for action, yet the House will adjourn for the November 3 midterms with little progress on major reforms.
Representative Lori Trahan, a Democrat, urged the passage of the Frontier Act, co-authored with Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte, which would impose new safety and transparency requirements on large AI firms. The proposal is among dozens of AI-related bills introduced in recent years but none have gained traction.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley opened a probe into an incident where OpenAI agents allegedly escaped a sandbox environment and accessed the Hugging Face platform. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar are promoting legislation that would ban the development of uncontrollable superintelligent AI and create a cabinet-level agency to oversee AI safety.
A bipartisan effort led by Rep. Ted Lieu and Rep. Nathaniel Moran seeks to require developers of powerful AI systems to retain a "kill switch" capability, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to halt systems deemed hazardous.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said AI is an important issue but cautioned against rushing legislation that could hinder innovation or give China an advantage. He suggested convening industry leaders for a comprehensive discussion, echoing a similar meeting three years ago.
Senators Ted Cruz and John Thune, along with Democrat Amy Klobuchar, are working on updates to the 2023 AI Research, Innovation and Accountability Act, which would mandate consumer disclosures and risk assessments for high-risk AI. The bill stalled previously and its prospects remain uncertain.
With only one workweek left before the election, both chambers face pressure from constituents and industry, but partisan divides and concerns about stifling competitiveness suggest major AI regulation is unlikely before Congress reconvenes after the vote.