Nukes Must Be Under ‘Human Control,’ Not AI: U.S. Lawmakers

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. lawmakers have amended the 2024 defense policy bill emphasizing the need for “human control” in launching nuclear weapons. Led by Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), the bipartisan amendment comes in response to growing concerns about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to initiate a nuclear attack autonomously.

Getting AI policy right is critical to our future.

Proud to work with @RepTedLieu to ensure that Congress tackles this issue in a bipartisan manner. pic.twitter.com/e3q5mV8tq6

— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) July 3, 2023

Representative Lieu’s proposal is just one of many AI-related amendments, signaling that Congress intended to address regulation in a piecemeal fashion. Already, Congress has seen more than 1,300 proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) regarding AI.

The various other proposals emphasize the importance of responsible AI development, human decision-making authority, and international cooperation in the field of AI research. As technology continues to advance, lawmakers want to strike a balance between harnessing AI’s potential and minimizing the risks associated with autonomous decision-making.