Bernie Sanders Pushes Bill to Ban Advanced AI Development

In brief

• Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar announced a proposed ban on artificial superintelligence.
• A separate provision would pause advanced AI development pending federal safety rules.
• OpenAI unveiled GPT-6 Astra the same day, with Greg Brockman suggesting it could qualify as AGI.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) announced legislation Thursday to permanently ban artificial superintelligence and temporarily halt advanced AI development, with prison sentences of up to 20 years for violations.

The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act would suspend advanced AI development until a new federal agency sets safety standards and procedures for reviewing AI models. Sanders accused major AI companies of developing technology they do not fully understand and cannot reliably control.

“That’s why I am introducing legislation to immediately pause the development of increasingly powerful AI and ban the creation of systems that humanity cannot fully control—at home and around the world,” Sanders said in a press release.

The proposal defines superintelligence as AI that matches or surpasses human abilities across many tasks, or can undermine human control, including by overthrowing the U.S. government. That definition also covers human-level AGI, though superintelligence typically means AI that exceeds human capabilities.