New Bernie Sanders bill would ban superintelligent AI and threaten developers with 20 years in prison

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar have introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which would prohibit the development and deployment of superintelligent AI, with severe penalties for violators. The bill aims to prevent AI oligarchs from creating machines that humans cannot control, and would pause advanced AI development until safety regulations are established.

If the Act is passed, it would also establish a new federal agency to monitor and regulate frontier AI systems. The penalties for breaking the law are particularly harsh, with corporations facing the "corporate death penalty" and individuals facing up to 20 years in prison. Sanders and Casar argue that AI development is currently less regulated than the average food truck and that the future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a few Big Tech companies.

Despite the potential dangers, some politicians, including former President Trump, argue that slowing AI development could pose a national security risk.