Bernie Sanders proposes banning ‘superintelligence’ and putting violators in prison
20 years in prison. That's Bernie Sanders' penalty for building superintelligence — and the bill just paused all frontier model development.
Why it matters
A major legislative push to criminalize frontier AI development and pause advanced model training. This is the most aggressive regulatory proposal yet, and it signals a shift from advisory guidance to criminal enforcement — practitioners and labs need to watch this closely.
The key facts
5 to knowBan Artificial Superintelligence Act introduced by Sanders (I-VT) and Casar (D-TX)
Up to 20 years in prison for developing superintelligence or advanced AI systems
Bill defines superintelligence as capable of 'destruction or disempowerment of humanity'
Proposal includes pause on frontier model development beyond specific data-training thresholds
Published September 23, 2026
Go to the source
The Verge AItheverge.com
Publisher excerpt: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) have introduced new legislation that would ban anyone from developing artificial superintelligence - a technology the bill describes as capable of the "destruction or disempowerment of humanity," including by overthrowing the government. Under…