US senators weigh requiring AI giants to commit to preventing catastrophe

The legislation is still being debated. Even if Congress approves the measure, it faces long odds of becoming law. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that existing authorities already provide adequate tools to regulate and prosecute tech companies, suggesting he wouldn't sign a bill setting new rules for AI.

The proposal is being discussed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, the top Democrat involved in the negotiations. Spokespeople for Thune and Cruz did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

“I’m continuing to work toward a bipartisan agreement on legislation for government oversight of the greatest risks posed by AI models,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “That includes requiring developers to work with government experts to verify and test models to make sure AI is safe.”

Cruz's Senate committee has oversight of the U.S. Commerce Department, the agency with in-house AI safety researchers. Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, has also weighed in on the legislation, sources say.