U.S. lawmakers propose ban on artificial superintelligence

U.S. lawmakers are proposing radical new measures to regulate artificial intelligence. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar are drafting the ‘Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act,’ which seeks to prohibit the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence until safety measures are proven effective by regulatory bodies.

The proposed legislation includes severe penalties for violators, comparable to those for the illegal development of nuclear weapons. For individuals, this could mean up to 20 years in prison, while corporations could face ‘corporate death penalty’ through mandatory dissolution. The bill also suggests creating a specialized federal agency with cabinet-level status to oversee AI regulation and aims to push for a global ban on superintelligence.

In contrast, President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to additional oversight, stating that existing regulatory and punitive powers are sufficient. Trump emphasized the importance of preventing China from surpassing the United States in the AI race. This debate follows calls from industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, for a coordinated slowdown in advanced AI development to ensure safety protocols keep pace with technological progress.