Representative Barrett Requested AI Treaty

The Michigan lawmaker urged federal officials to lead international talks on artificial intelligence safety.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy industrial mechanical control switch embedded in a stone plinth, symbolizing human oversight of AI technology. — Representative Tom Barrett has urged the U.S. State Department to lead international efforts toward an AI safety treaty, specifically targeting weapon oversight. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Representative Tom Barrett has called for a new international artificial intelligence treaty to improve incident reporting and risk management. He specifically requested that the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations prioritize AI oversight.

Why it matters

The proposal aims to ensure that powerful artificial intelligence technologies remain under secure human control. It specifically emphasizes the necessity of maintaining human decision-makers for offensive and nuclear weapon operations.

The proposal focuses on establishing rigorous incident-report sharing and risk management techniques. These protocols target systemic safeguards to keep human operators in the loop for critical military and nuclear infrastructure.

The players

Tom Barrett

He is the Representative for Michigan's 7th Congressional District and serves as a lead advocate for these AI regulations.

Marco Rubio

He is the United States Secretary of State and the recipient of the letter regarding international AI treaties.

Mike Waltz

He serves as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and was petitioned to facilitate AI safety discussions.

American College of Physicians

This is a professional society of internists that supports federal efforts to restrict AI in medical decision-making.

The details

Beyond the international treaty, medical organizations including the American College of Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association have endorsed the Doctors Not AI Act. This legislation would strictly prohibit the use of artificial intelligence when making health insurance coverage decisions to protect independent clinical judgment.

September 30, 2026, marks the publication of these policy initiatives.

The Tech Race

The push for international AI governance follows the precedent set by the Doctors Not AI Act, which seeks to limit autonomous decision-making in vital sectors. This represents a broader legislative effort to establish human-in-the-loop requirements as the standard for critical infrastructure and sensitive public services.

The proposed Doctors Not AI Act could eventually prevent insurance companies from using automated systems to deny coverage, ensuring patients maintain access to physician-led reviews. These policies aim to protect citizens from being subjected to black-box algorithms during critical life decisions.

The takeaway

Legislators are increasingly prioritizing human oversight to mitigate risks associated with the rapid deployment of autonomous systems. These efforts reflect a growing consensus that critical sectors like national security and medicine require robust, human-centric safeguards.