S-2604 : Still Just a Bill

Summary of S. 2604: Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee Act

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to establish an Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee by April 1, 2026. The committee's primary responsibilities include:

• Analyzing the progression of artificial intelligence models and technologies relevant to achieving artificial general intelligence.
• Assessing the advancements of potential adversaries in the field of artificial general intelligence.
• Evaluating the military applications and implications of artificial general intelligence for the Department of Defense.
• Developing a strategy for the Department's adoption of artificial general intelligence, including ethical guidelines, resource allocation, and measurable goals.
• Analyzing threats stemming from adversarial use of artificial general intelligence and creating counter-strategies.

The Steering Committee will consist of high-ranking officials from the Department of Defense and representatives from innovation centers and other relevant organizations. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will serve as co-chairs.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by January 31, 2027, detailing the Steering Committee's findings. An unclassified version of the report will be made available to the public. The committee's authorities and requirements will terminate on December 31, 2027.

The bill defines "artificial general intelligence" as AI systems capable of matching or exceeding human intelligence across most cognitive tasks, distinguishing them from narrow AI systems designed for specific tasks.