Sanders and Casar Introduce Bill to Ban Artificial Superintelligence with Criminal Penalties
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Greg Casar (D-TX) have introduced new legislation aimed at halting the development of artificial superintelligence. The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act defines prohibited AI systems as those capable of the "destruction or disempowerment of humanity," including systems that could potentially overthrow the government.
Under the proposed legislation, AI developers and company leaders found in violation could face up to 20 years in prison. The bill does not focus solely on the most powerful superintelligent systems—it also calls for a broader pause on the development of advanced AI systems. The timing of the proposal coincides with President Donald Trump's recent decision to replace the term "AI" with "superintelligence" in official U.S. government documents, reflecting an evolving political and regulatory landscape around artificial intelligence.