Rand Paul clashes with fellow Republican over AI 'kill switch' as Senate grapples with 'Terminator' fears
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., was readying a long-shot attempt at regulating an industry that has, in recent weeks, spurred fears and anxiety about human annihilation.He planned to ram through his...
By Fox News · Fox News
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., was readying a long-shot attempt at regulating an industry that has, in recent weeks, spurred fears and anxiety about human annihilation. He planned to ram through his bill, which would require artificial intelligence (AI) companies to have a kill switch for rogue AI, on the Senate floor. But his attempt Wednesday night was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Kennedy told Fox News Digital he feared there was little desire from Republicans to do anything to regulate AI. "There's no appetite in my caucus to do anything that I can say," Kennedy said. HAWLEY TAKES AIM AT 'CORPORATE WELFARE' AFTER GOP-BACKED TAX BREAK BOOSTED CONTROVERSIAL INDUSTRY Paul contended the following day that regulating something "so pervasive as AI throughout our economy" would require hearing from people who are involved in the industry and having a debate over the regulatory structure. "I think it would be crazy to get on the floor one day and regulate an entire industry," Paul told reporters. Still, the anxiety over the unfettered evolution of AI has spread like wildfire after reports that rogue bots began acting on their own, but it's an issue that Congress has had years to address. Three years ago, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was then leading the Senate when Democrats had control under former President Joe Biden, met with lawmakers and Big Tech CEOs to sketch out an AI roadmap. Since then, Congress hasn’t taken legislative action to add guardrails to AI development. Now, with fears ramping up that AI could wipe out humanity in a decade, and with reports of rogue AI agents scheming privately and attacking other AI, lawmakers are again taking notice. AI'S MASSIVE APPETITE FOR POWER, WATER IGNITES FIGHT IN HIGH-STAKES TEXAS SENATE RACE But some wonder whether this time Congress will take action to regulate AI, or if it’s turning a growing problem into another political issue to be debated and ignored. "It's already a political issue," Sen. Elizab…