Who makes the rules for AI? Right now, the answer is: not many people yet. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are trying to change that. This week, members of Congress shared new ideas about AI safety, standards, and honesty. Here is a simple guide to what they are proposing. Important: these are only proposals. They are not laws.

A Plan to Set AI Safety Standards

Federal News Network reports that Sen. Maria Cantwell shared an AI framework on Wednesday. It would have NIST set standards for frontier models. NIST is a U.S. government agency that works on science and technology rules. Frontier models are the biggest, most powerful AI systems.

Telling the Public When AI Is Used

A bipartisan bill (that means both Democrats and Republicans are behind it) from Sens. Gary Peters and James Lankford would require government agencies to tell the public when they use AI or other automated systems. If an AI system makes a big decision about you, the bill would also set up a way to ask for a human to take another look.

Emergency Buttons and Safety Reports

Another Federal News Network story lists more ideas. Bills with names like the AI Emergency Button Act and the AI Kill Switch Act give you a hint: the goal is to have a way to hit stop if an AI system causes big trouble. The AI Incident Reporting Act would require AI developers to report security breaches and other safety problems to the Commerce Department.

Sens. Michael Bennet and Peter Welch introduced the AI Regulatory Act. It would create a new independent agency, called the Federal Digital Commission, to oversee frontier AI and social media. The agency could order AI companies to pause development for up to six months.

Will Any of This Become Law Soon?

Probably not right away. The same story says lawmakers are unlikely to act before the midterm elections. Still, the proposals offer “a preview of what the next Congress could consider.”

What About State AI Laws?

While Congress waits, some states are moving. For example, Corporate Compliance Insights reports that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. It focuses on the makers of the largest AI models and calls for independent audits.

Why Should You Care About AI Regulation?

These rules could shape the AI tools you use every day, from chatbots to apps at school and at work. Good rules may help keep people safe. Some people worry that too many rules could slow down new ideas. Lawmakers are still trying to find the right balance.

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