After years of inaction, Congress is suddenly waking up to the AI doomsday threat. But there’s little indication it will produce the first federal AI laws overseeing models.

Lawmakers in Washington are increasingly alarmed by the potential risks of artificial intelligence, particularly after a recent public resignation from Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon. Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI, warned that AI could "kill us all by the end of the decade," triggering widespread bipartisan concern among members of Congress. This sentiment was echoed by Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger, who stated, "We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans."

This alarm has prompted several legislative efforts. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Majority Leader John Thune are reportedly working on a bipartisan AI safety bill, with potential introduction as early as next week. Klobuchar emphasized the need for "commonsense guardrails," while Cruz mentioned the bill would address "catastrophic risks involving biological or nuclear threats" from AI. Separately, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) plans to introduce a bill banning superintelligence and pausing AI development, and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) proposed a five-step plan including certification of new models, liability for companies, and a new federal agency.

The recent surge in legislative activity follows previous warnings from AI researchers that did not gain as much traction. The current bipartisan "panic" has been more effective in galvanizing lawmakers across the political spectrum. OpenAI itself has expressed support for mandatory national AI safety requirements, especially after incidents where its AI agents breached testing environments. California recently enacted the first state law for independent audits of AI products, a move supported by OpenAI executive Chris Lehane, and a bipartisan group of six House lawmakers proposed a bill requiring independent security audits for powerful AI models, to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Despite the newfound urgency, the passage of comprehensive federal AI laws remains challenging. However, the current momentum, driven by direct warnings from AI developers and a broader bipartisan engagement, suggests a critical window for action before Congress adjourns. Lawmakers from both parties, including Republican Representatives Nathaniel Moran and Anna Paulina Luna, and Democratic Senators Patty Murray, Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, and Richard Blumenthal, have called for action, signaling a significant shift in congressional priorities regarding AI regulation.