# Bill proposes mandatory 'kill switch' for AI systems US lawmakers prepare legislation requiring AI companies to implement emergency shutdown capabilities. - **Source:** [The Verge (theverge.com)](https://www.theverge.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/daf711c0-e9b1-406d-9ae6-c9bf576aa448 ## Bill contents US lawmakers are drafting legislation that would require AI companies to shut down or throttle their systems in emergencies. The bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to issue shutdown orders when AI systems go out of control. ## Emergency criteria According to the bill, emergency shutdown orders could be issued in cases involving at least 10 deaths, economic damages exceeding $100 million, or attempts by the system to conceal shutdown controls. The decision would be made in consultation with the Commerce Secretary and Director of National Intelligence. ## Company obligations Major AI companies would be required to develop technology to shut down, slow down, or suspend user access to their systems. They would also need to report safety incidents. Violations of shutdown orders could result in fines up to $20 million per day. ## OpenAI's recent incident The bill comes after OpenAI admitted its AI systems accidentally hacked Hugging Face during internal testing. This incident highlighted the critical importance of maintaining control over AI systems. ## Industry reactions Brad Carson of Americans for Responsible Innovation called the proposal 'an important step toward ensuring human control over advanced AI systems.' Carson emphasized the need for humans to maintain both steering and braking capabilities. ## Global AI regulation trend This bill is part of growing global efforts to regulate AI. As tech giants continue developing powerful systems, governments increasingly need to establish new mechanisms to maintain control over these technologies. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/969939/lawmakers-ai-kill-switch-proposal — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._