US lawmakers propose sweeping AI restrictions with superintelligence ban

United States Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Greg Casar of Texas introduced a new bill that would impose sweeping restrictions on the artificial intelligence industry, including banning the development of what is called artificial superintelligence.

The legislation, introduced on Wednesday, comes weeks after top AI industry researchers issued dire warnings that the technology could wipe out humanity within the next decade, according to a wave of industry insiders.

The nearly 20-page bill outlines an outright ban on the development of intelligence that can outperform a human being and has the power “to destroy or disempower humanity, including by overthrowing the federal government.”

The legislation would also call for a temporary pause on the development of advanced AI systems until a regulatory body that can oversee and develop safety standards is put in place, as well as establishing a cabinet-level department called the Department of Artificial Intelligence that would oversee the industry.

The proposed agency would be tasked with regulating what are called frontier models — a term referring to the most advanced AI models in development. The agency would ensure the models are not dangerous, and it would be empowered to remove the models from circulation if they do, in fact, become dangerous and supervise their destruction.

The bill would also impose steep penalties for those who violate the superintelligence ban, resulting in 20 years in prison, mirroring comparable punishments for individuals who develop nuclear weapons. It also states that individuals who violate the provisions would be barred from working in the AI industry for 10 years.

For companies, the legislation also calls for what the summary describing the legislation refers to as a “corporate death penalty,” in which charter holders could have their intellectual property and assets seized by the federal government.

The legislation calls for international coordination to institute a global ban. That would include pursuing international agreements, as well as instituting export controls on “artificial intelligence computing infrastructure”.