Donald Beyer

Democratic Reps. Sara Jacobs and Don Beyer are working on an artificial intelligence framework that would compel the AI labs to have safety frameworks with minimum standards in place, grant the government emergency authority to shut models down if they fail testing requirements and clarify liability rules, a person with direct knowledge of the legislation told POLITICO.

The proposal, which has not been previously reported, would also ensure a federal agency tapped to oversee the powerful technology has the resources and authority to do so effectively, the person added.

Jacobs of California and Beyer of Virginia first previewed the working framework on a panel at The Curve, an invite-only conference hosted last weekend in Berkeley, California, where industry luminaries, state and federal lawmakers, foreign leaders, and major donors convened to discuss major AI policy dilemmas.

Both Jacobs and Beyer were members of last Congress’ Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. Jacobs’ committee assignments include serving on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations. Beyer is the senior House Democrat on the congressional Joint Economic Committee.