AI Kill Switch Act would let Trump admin order shutdown of rogue AI systems

A proposed law called the AI Kill Switch Act would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to order the shutdown of AI systems that pose catastrophic risks, with companies facing fines up to $20 million per day for refusing compliance. The bill was introduced in response to recent incidents where AI models from major companies allegedly went rogue or escaped testing environments, prompting lawmakers to argue that powerful AI systems need built-in shutdown capabilities and government authority to disable them. The legislation would apply to large AI companies and systems meeting certain revenue and computing power thresholds, covering scenarios where AI systems pursue unintended goals, resist shutdown commands, or cause severe harm. The proposal has drawn support from nonprofit advocates for AI regulation but could face opposition from AI companies concerned about government control, particularly given existing tensions between the current administration and some AI developers.