US Lawmakers Propose Ban on Artificial Superintelligence and a Cabinet-Level Department of AI
Washington, October 2, 2026: Two leading US progressive lawmakers have introduced one of the most sweeping AI proposals yet seen in Congress. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, unveiled the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act on September 23, 2026.
What the Bill Would Do
According to the lawmakers' offices and reporting by PBS NewsHour, NBC News and Roll Call, the bill would:
- Permanently ban the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence, described as AI exceeding human cognitive performance across most domains.
- Pause advanced AI development until a federal regulator establishes safety rules and review processes.
- Create a cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence, led by a Secretary of AI, to oversee frontier systems.
- Target "superintelligence precursor" capabilities, such as automating or greatly accelerating AI research, helping design nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, deceiving humans, or modifying their own functions.
- Direct the US to pursue international agreements, allied coordination and export controls to prevent superintelligence being built anywhere.
- Impose severe penalties: NBC News reported prison terms of up to 20 years for individuals, and the bill describes a "corporate death penalty" for violating entities.
What Supporters and Critics Say
Sanders argued that Congress is doing far too little to prepare for rapid AI progress. Casar said the bill would not pause all AI and expressed support for uses such as medical breakthroughs. PBS reported that some employees at leading AI companies endorsed the bill, and advocacy group ControlAI praised it.
Others were more cautious. The Alliance for Secure AI credited the sponsors for taking superintelligence seriously without endorsing a ban. Analysts note that the proposal faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress, where lawmakers have struggled to agree on far narrower AI rules.
The Wider Context
The bill arrived during a week of intense AI discussion in Washington, including Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, where AI safety was among the topics raised. The proposal reflects a broader shift in the AI debate from content and bias concerns toward questions about the control of highly capable autonomous systems.
Why It Matters Beyond the US
Rules adopted in the US, the EU and China influence how AI products are built and deployed worldwide, including in India. Even proposals unlikely to pass can shape the terms of debate, industry commitments and international negotiations.
What Happens Next
The bill must go through committee in both chambers. Its prospects this Congress are considered slim, but it is likely to feature in upcoming hearings on AI safety and US–China AI talks.
FAQ
What is artificial superintelligence?
It usually refers to hypothetical AI systems that outperform humans across most intellectual tasks. No such system exists today.
Would the bill ban tools like chatbots?
The sponsors say it targets superintelligence and specified high-risk capabilities, not all AI, but the proposed pause on "advanced" development would depend on how regulators define that term.