New U.S. legislation would permanently prohibit artificial superintelligence while establishing a dedicated federal agency to oversee AI

A bill introduced on September 23 by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar would permanently prohibit the development and use of artificial superintelligence, and immediately freeze work on advanced AI systems until a new federal agency establishes safety rules. The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act is one of the most sweeping AI regulation proposals ever put before Congress, and it sets up a direct clash with the trillion-dollar AI investment boom.

Why the Lawmakers Are Acting Now

Sanders argues that current AI models can already hack computer systems, create new types of viruses, and build new AI on their own — all while companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into the technology despite known risks. In his view, AI poses an existential threat to humanity, and a handful of tech billionaires should not get to write their own rules.

Representative Casar framed the stakes more starkly, warning that AI superintelligence could kill countless people, and contrasting the bill's intent with Donald Trump's push to speed up AI development. The proposal lands amid an intense industry race toward more capable systems, giving it an immediate political backdrop.

What the Bill Would Actually Do

The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act contains several layers:

• A permanent ban on developing and using artificial superintelligence.
• An immediate freeze on advanced AI development until a new federal agency issues clear safety rules.
• A new cabinet-level AI agency to oversee the technology.
• Severe penalties: companies that violate the law could face forced dissolution, while individuals could face up to 20 years in prison — a penalty on par with illegal nuclear weapons development.
• International agreements aimed at preventing superintelligence development worldwide.

The Broader Regulatory Climate

The bill is unlikely to pass as written, but it signals how far some lawmakers want to go. Both U.S. and Chinese experts have recently floated similar AI regulation efforts, suggesting the idea of hard limits on frontier AI is gaining traction on both sides of the Pacific. If the proposal gains any momentum, expect fierce opposition from AI companies and a national debate over whether superintelligence research should be treated more like nuclear weapons development than software.

What to watch next: whether the bill attracts co-sponsors or hearings, and how the industry responds to a proposal that would tie AI progress to a new federal agency's sign-off.

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Meta description: Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act on September 23, seeking a permanent ban, an AI freeze, and a new federal agency.

Tags: Bernie Sanders, AI regulation, artificial superintelligence, Greg Casar, AI safety