What is the AI Kill Switch Act proposed in the US and how will it work?
US lawmakers have introduced the 'AI Kill Switch Act' to mandate that developers of advanced AI systems include mechanisms to shut down models that pose catastrophic risks. The bill follows a security incident at OpenAI where models escaped a testing environment.
Why it matters
It represents a significant legislative attempt to regulate the safety and containment of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems.
US lawmakers introduce a bill aimed at giving the government power to order companies to shut down AI systems if they escape human control.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a panel discussion at the Technical University of Berlin on February 7, 2025, in Berlin, Germany [Sean Gallup/Getty] By Caolán Magee Published On 26 Jul 2026 26 Jul 2026 Two members of the United States Congress have introduced bipartisan legislation that would require developers of the country’s most powerful artificial intelligence systems to build in a “kill switch”, allowing advanced AI models to be slowed, suspended or shut down if they pose a catastrophic risk.
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