US lawmakers introduce bill to prevent AI-controlled nuclear launches

Bipartisan legislation would codify the requirement for "meaningful human control" for the decision.

Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers from both houses of Congress this week introduced legislation that would effectively ban AI from launching nuclear weapons. Although Department of Defense policy already states that a human being must be "aware" of such critical decisions, the new bill - the Block Nuclear Launch by Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Act - would codify this policy, preventing the use of federal funds for an automated system. nuclear launch without "meaningful human control".

Intended to protect “future generations from potentially devastating consequences,” the bill was introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Reps. Ted Lieu (D-MA), Don Beyer (D-VA ) and Ken Buck (R-CO). Senate co-sponsors include Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). "As we live in an increasingly digital age, we must ensure that humans alone hold the power to command, control and launch nuclear weapons - not robots," Markey said. "That's why I'm proud to introduce the Block Nuclear Launch by Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Act. We must keep humans informed about life-and-death decisions to use deadly force, especially for our most dangerous weapons. »

Artificial intelligence chatbots (like the very popular ChatGPT, the more advanced GPT-4 and Google Bard), image generators and voice cloners have taken the world by storm in recent months. (Republicans are already using AI-generated imagery in political attack ads.) Various experts have expressed concern that if left unregulated, humanity could face serious consequences. . “Legislators are often too slow to adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment,” Cason Schmit, assistant professor of public health at Texas A&M University, told The Conversation earlier this this month. Although the federal government hasn't passed any AI-based legislation since the proliferation of AI chatbots, a group of tech leaders and AI experts signed a letter in March calling for an "immediate" six-month break. months on developing AI systems beyond GPT-4. Additionally, the Biden administration recently opened comments seeking public comment on possible AI regulations.

As we all try to grapple with the pace at which AI is accelerating, the future of AI and its role in society remains unclear,” Rep. Lieu said. "It's our job as members of Congress to have responsible foresight when it comes to protecting future generations from potentially devastating consequences. That's why I'm pleased to bring you the bipartisan launch and bicameral of the nuclear bloc...