Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is drafting legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems, according to statements made to The Hill on Thursday.

The proposed legislation aims to establish what Schiff describes as safeguards to protect privacy and American values in the deployment of AI technologies by government agencies and military forces.

Schiff's legislative effort enters an ongoing national debate over the appropriate limits and oversight mechanisms for AI systems used in sensitive government applications. The discussion has gained prominence as AI capabilities have rapidly advanced across both civilian and military sectors.

The senator's initiative focuses specifically on two areas of AI application that have drawn particular scrutiny from privacy advocates and policy experts: the use of AI systems for domestic surveillance operations and the development of fully autonomous weapons platforms.

Details of the specific provisions and timeline for introducing the legislation were not immediately available. The proposed legislation would need to navigate the legislative process and potential opposition from those who argue excessive regulation could hamper national security capabilities or technological innovation.