# Republicans clash on Senate floor over AI kill switch

> Source: <https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6094142-paul-kennedy-ai-kill-switch/>
> Published: 2026-09-16 22:10:10+00:00

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday blocked a request by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to pass legislation that would require tech companies to develop a “kill switch” for superintelligent AI amid fears that it could spin out of control and pose an existential threat to humanity. Paul argued that an “open-ended” government mandate to implement…