US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restrict Advanced AI Development

United States Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Greg Casar of Texas introduced a bill on September 23, 2026, that seeks to impose significant restrictions on the artificial intelligence industry, including a ban on the development of artificial superintelligence. The nearly 20-page bill outlines an outright ban on intelligence that can outperform humans and has the potential to harm humanity or undermine the federal government. The legislation also proposes a temporary pause on the development of advanced AI systems until a regulatory body is established to oversee safety standards. This proposed agency, the Department of Artificial Intelligence, would regulate frontier models, ensuring they are safe and capable of being removed from circulation if deemed dangerous. Violators of the superintelligence ban could face penalties of up to 20 years in prison, similar to those for developing nuclear weapons, and would be barred from working in the AI industry for 10 years. The bill also includes provisions for the seizure of intellectual property and assets from companies that violate the ban. Additionally, the legislation calls for international cooperation to implement a global ban on advanced AI, including export controls on AI computing infrastructure. Alex Turner, a former researcher at Google DeepMind, expressed skepticism about the bill's chances of passing but acknowledged its safety intentions. The bill's introduction follows comments from US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly, where he stated the US would refer to artificial intelligence as 'super intelligence' in government documents. The AI industry has faced increasing scrutiny, particularly after Jacob Coxon, a former AI researcher at Anthropic, highlighted the potential dangers of the technology. The bill is introduced as OpenAI and Anthropic approach initial public offerings, with OpenAI expected in 2027 and Anthropic potentially in November.