Sanders, Casar Propose Permanent Ban on Artificial Superintelligence

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar announced forthcoming legislation called the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which would permanently prohibit artificial superintelligence and temporarily pause advanced AI development until federal safeguards are established.

The proposal, announced Sept. 3, would keep the pause in place until federal safety rules and a model-review process are created. It would also establish a cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence advised by an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board.

The department would monitor frontier AI systems, oversee the removal of dangerous capabilities and supervise the destruction of artificial superintelligence covered by the proposal.

Individuals who violate or circumvent the restrictions could face up to 20 years in prison. Entities could face what the proposal describes as a “corporate death penalty.”

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, said the legislation reflects concerns about developing systems that could operate beyond human control.

“It doesn’t take a genius to say, ‘slow it down,’” Sanders said.

He also questioned whether systems that become smarter than humans should be allowed to act independently of human control.

“The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs,” Sanders said.

Casar, a Democratic representative from Texas and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said artificial superintelligence could threaten Americans’ security, freedom and lives.

The proposal would also call for international agreements, coordination with allies and export controls aimed at preventing artificial superintelligence development worldwide. The measure was announced as forthcoming legislation.