U.S. bill proposes permanent ban on artificial superintelligence and creation of new federal AI agency

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced a bill on September 23 that would permanently ban the development and use of artificial superintelligence. The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act would also immediately freeze development of advanced AI systems until a new federal agency can put clear safety rules in place.

Current AI models can already hack computer systems, create new types of viruses, and build new AI on their own, while companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into the technology despite known risks, Sanders says. AI poses an existential threat to humanity, and a handful of tech billionaires shouldn't get to write their own rules. Casar warns that AI superintelligence could kill countless people, while Donald Trump wants to speed up its development.

The bill also calls for a new cabinet-level AI agency. Companies that violate the law could face forced dissolution. Individuals could face up to 20 years in prison, a penalty on par with illegal nuclear weapons development. On top of that, the legislation pushes for international agreements to prevent superintelligence development worldwide. Both the U.S. and Chinese experts have recently floated similar AI regulation efforts.

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