A Federal Ban on Artificial Superintelligence
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar introduced legislation that would prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence in the United States. Their proposal also calls for a new federal Department of Artificial Intelligence to oversee powerful systems and establish national safeguards.
Under the bill, work on advanced AI would pause until the federal government adopts rules for its development and deployment. A permanent ban would cover systems that surpass human cognitive abilities or could plan and carry out humanity’s destruction or disempowerment.
The measure reflects growing concern that increasingly capable models could move faster than public institutions can respond. Sanders argued that decisions with consequences for humanity should not remain under the control of a small group of technology executives.
New Oversight for Advanced AI Systems
Advanced systems would need federal approval before deployment, giving the proposed department authority over their release. Some violations could result in prison sentences of up to 20 years, illustrating the seriousness of the restrictions envisioned by the lawmakers.
Supporters include current employees and specialists from several major AI companies. OpenAI safety researcher Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe and Google DeepMind engineer Swante Scholz endorsed the effort in personal capacities rather than on behalf of their employers.
Backers say coordinated government action is necessary because private companies face pressure to compete and cannot set binding rules for the entire industry. The legislation therefore seeks to place responsibility for the most consequential decisions within a public regulatory structure.
A Proposal Facing Political Resistance
Although the bill presents an expansive vision for AI governance, it faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress. President Donald Trump has resisted stronger oversight, while leading technology figures have expressed different views about the risks and regulation of advanced AI.
Casar, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, framed the proposal as part of a broader effort to protect workers and the public. Its introduction also gives progressives a distinct position in the growing political debate over how the United States should manage rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
References
Cappelletti, J. (2026, September 23). Sen. Bernie Sanders unveils bill to ban artificial superintelligence and create Department of AI. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/ai-superintelligence-bernie-sanders-d6a6a2cd8e71d7c95bdc394595aa85d1