Responsible Artificial Intelligence Defense Act of 2026

This bill would add a new section to federal defense law setting Department of Defense policy on using autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) while keeping human oversight. It would require the Department to sort autonomous weapons and AI tools into risk levels and to have senior officials review and verify them before development and before fielding, with verifications valid for three years. It would bar the Department from using AI to decide to launch a nuclear weapon, from using AI to monitor or target people in the United States without a warrant, and from using autonomous weapons for lethal force without appropriate human judgment. It would also require testing by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, create an Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Working Group, and require annual reports to Congress through 2037. Certain systems, such as mines, unguided munitions, and unarmed platforms, would be exempt.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Christopher A. Coons Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors