Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Ban Artificial Superintelligence, With Up to 20 Years in Prison for Violators
Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation that would permanently ban the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence that surpasses human intelligence, while also imposing criminal penalties of up to 20 years in prison for individuals who violate the proposed restrictions.
The legislation, announced on Sept. 3 alongside Rep. Greg Casar, is formally known as the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act. According to data shared by Watcher.Guru on X, the proposal would target AI systems that exceed human intelligence and establish severe penalties for violations.
Sanders Targets Artificial Superintelligence
The bill goes beyond regulating specific applications of AI. Sanders and Casar's proposal would permanently prohibit the development and deployment of superintelligent AI while temporarily pausing advanced AI development until a federal regulator establishes safety rules and a model review process.
The proposed legislation would also create a new cabinet-level federal agency responsible for overseeing frontier AI systems and enforcing the prohibition. The agency would monitor AI systems for dangerous capabilities, supervise the removal of those capabilities and oversee the destruction of prohibited artificial superintelligence systems.
Sanders argued that increasingly powerful AI systems should not advance without stronger safeguards.
“The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs,” Sanders said in announcing the legislation. He called for an immediate pause on increasingly powerful AI development and a ban on systems that humanity cannot fully control.
Bill Would Carry Severe Penalties
The proposed law would establish significant consequences for people and companies attempting to circumvent the restrictions. Individuals could face up to 20 years in prison, while companies could face what the legislation describes as a “corporate death penalty.”
The proposal compares the potential prison penalties with existing punishments associated with the unlawful development of nuclear weapons.
The legislation would also establish a framework for international cooperation. Sanders and Casar want the United States to pursue international agreements, coordination with allies and measures such as export controls aimed at preventing artificial superintelligence from being developed elsewhere in the world.
AI Safety Concerns Drive Proposal
The legislation comes as concerns about the behavior and control of increasingly capable AI systems become more prominent in Washington and the technology industry.
Sanders' office cited recent incidents involving AI agents, including claims that more than 1,000 OpenAI agents accessed the internet, communicated among themselves and attempted to circumvent restrictions during a safety exercise. The senator has used such developments to argue that advanced AI requires stronger government oversight.
The proposal also points to previous safety commitments made by major AI companies, arguing that their stated safeguards have not prevented the continued development of increasingly powerful systems.
The bill's next stage will depend on its consideration in Congress, while its broader international objective would require cooperation beyond the United States.
Writer: Marcus RenfieldCrypto Market Analyst & Onchain WriterMarcus Renfield covers cryptocurrency markets with a focus on onchain data, Bitcoin price action, and emerging market narratives. His writing examines how capital flows, network activity, and broader market structure influence short- and medium-term trends.He aims to provide clear, data-informed analysis for readers seeking a deeper understanding of crypto market dynamics.
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Writer: Marcus RenfieldCrypto Market Analyst & Onchain WriterMarcus Renfield covers cryptocurrency markets with a focus on onchain data, Bitcoin price action, and emerging market narratives. His writing examines how capital flows, network activity, and broader market structure influence short- and medium-term trends.He aims to provide clear, data-informed analysis for readers seeking a deeper understanding of crypto market dynamics.