Bill to Ban AI Superintelligence and Call on UN for Global Security
US lawmakers announced a bill aiming to permanently ban AI superintelligence and establish a new department, while tech leaders invited the United Nations to set global security rules.
US Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar publicly unveiled a bill that envisions permanently banning the development of AI superintelligence and establishing a cabinet-level department to oversee the AI sector.
Details of the AI Bill
Authored by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar, the Artificial Intelligence Superintelligence Prohibition Act of 2026 aims to freeze the development of the most advanced artificial intelligence systems.
New Department and Federal Authorities
Under the bill, it is planned to establish a cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence to oversee the industry and to mandate federal approval and federal charters for companies building advanced AI.
Legal Definition of Superintelligence
In the bill text, superintelligence is defined as artificial intelligence systems that exceed human cognitive performance in most tasks or possess the capacity to plan the destruction of humanity.
Criminal Penalties and Bans
While the bill prescribes prison sentences of up to 20 years for individuals and the seizure of technology for companies in case of violations, it also bans recursive self-improvement and models capable of designing nuclear or biological weapons.
Tech CEOs' Call to the UN
In speeches addressed to the United Nations Security Council, tech company executives stated that they were prepared to slow down work if security required it, demanding international standards.
International Regulation Debates
These developments occurred immediately after President Donald Trump expressed opposition to international AI regulation at the United Nations General Assembly.