US lawmakers fear AI-instigated nuclear attacks

A bipartisan bill in Congress calls for a ban on the use of artificial intelligence for launching warheads. US House and Senate lawmakers have raised alarm bells about the potential use of AI in America’s nuclear arsenal, arguing that the technology must not be put in a position to fire off warheads on its own. The legislation would codify a current Pentagon policy that requires a human to be “in the loop” on any launch decisions. US Representative Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican, warned that the use of AI without a human chain of command would be “reckless” and “dangerous.” Representative Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, is a lead backer of the AI legislation. A poll released earlier this month by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence found that 36% of AI researchers agreed that the technology could cause a “nuclear-level catastrophe.” US Central Command (CENTCOM) last week announced the hiring of a former Google executive as its first-ever AI adviser. The Pentagon has asked Congress for $1.8 billion in funding for AI research in its next fiscal year.