Bill · S. 4113· Senate(119-S-4113)
AI Guardrails Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 3/17/2026
- Last activity
- 3/17/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Elissa Slotkin
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``AI Guardrails Act of 2026'' aims to place specific limitations on how the Department of Defense uses artificial intelligence. It prohibits the use of AI for launching or detonating nuclear weapons. Additionally, it restricts the use of AI for monitoring, tracking, profiling, or targeting individuals or groups in the United States without a legal basis. The bill also limits the use of AI in the employment of lethal force by autonomous weapon systems to ensure human judgment and supervision. Finally, the bill outlines a specific process for the Secretary of Defense to waive certain prohibitions regarding autonomous weapon systems under extraordinary circumstances.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life?+5
The bill explicitly prohibits using AI to monitor or target activities protected by the First Amendment.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+5
The bill prevents the unauthorized monitoring, tracking, and profiling of people via AI by the DOD.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?+4
The bill restricts the profiling and tracking of individuals by the Department of Defense using AI.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Nuclear Safety: The bill prohibits the use of AI for the execution of launching or detonating a nuclear weapon, which serves as a safeguard regarding these weapons (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Protection of Civil Rights: The Department of Defense is prohibited from using AI for monitoring, tracking, profiling, or targeting people in the U.S. without a legal basis, and it specifically cannot use AI solely to target activities protected by the First Amendment or other constitutional rights (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Human Oversight in Combat: The bill requires appropriate levels of human judgment and supervision when AI is used in the employment of lethal force by autonomous weapon systems (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exceptions to Safety Standards: The Secretary of Defense has the authority to waive the requirement for human judgment and supervision in autonomous weapon systems for up to one year at a time if extraordinary national security circumstances exist (Section 2(c)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+5Improves Policing Reform+3Improves Voting Rights+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Gun Owners+1
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+1
- 3/17/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in Senate