US Senators Propose Bill to Halt Advanced AI Development, Impose Strict Penalties
Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation aiming to pause and prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence, with severe penalties for violations.
U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar have proposed the "Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act," a bill seeking to halt the development of advanced artificial intelligence.
The proposed legislation aims to pause and prohibit the creation of artificial superintelligence, defining it as AI systems that surpass human cognitive abilities. The bill also calls for the establishment of a new federal agency tasked with overseeing AI risks and enforcing the ban.
Individuals and entities found in violation of the act could face significant penalties. For organizations, this could mean the revocation of their corporate charter, a penalty likened to "corporate capital punishment." Individuals could be subject to up to 20 years of imprisonment, a punishment comparable to that for illicit nuclear weapons development.
The proposed law intends to extend its reach beyond U.S. borders, seeking international agreements and coordination with allies to enforce a global prohibition on superintelligence. This move follows recent warnings from AI researchers about potential existential risks posed by rapidly advancing AI, prompting increased calls for regulatory action from U.S. lawmakers.