Bernie Sanders Proposes Banning Superintelligent AI and Imprisoning Developers for 20 Years
TL;DR
Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced the "Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act" together with Representative Greg Casar. The bill would halt development of superintelligent AI until federal safety rules are in place and punish developers who break them with up to 20 years in prison, comparable to penalties for nuclear weapons violations. Sanders put it this way: "When you are racing towards a cliff, you don't just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes.
Nauti's Take
The bill puts a concrete template on the table for handling superintelligence risk in law, which is progress over open letters and appeals. The catch: without a clear definition of superintelligence, it is unclear who would be covered, and with Trump opposed, its prospects of passing look slim.
For teams in Europe this is a political signal for now, while the EU AI Act remains the rule that applies.
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