The purpose of the AI Guardrails Act of 2026 is to establish clear limitations on how the Department of Defense (DoD) can use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The goal is to ensure that while the U.S. military adopts AI to maintain its global military strength, it does so in a way that is secure, reliable, and respects individual rights. Key provisions of the Act include several specific prohibitions on the use of AI by the DoD. First, the DoD cannot use AI for launching or detonating nuclear weapons.