Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) have introduced new legislation that would ban anyone from developing artificial superintelligence – a technology the bill describes as capable of the “destruction or disempowerment of humanity,” including by overthrowing the government. Under the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, AI leaders would face up to 20 years in prison for violating the law.
The bill doesn’t just take aim at the more powerful superintelligence, a term President Donald Trump said the US will use in place of “AI” in official documents. It would also pause the development of advanced AI systems, which lawmakers …
Wait, does this pause apply to current AI too? The bill text mentions pausing advanced systems, which is a huge red flag for innovation.
I never thought I’d see this day. Banning superintelligence sounds like sci-fi, but if it keeps us safe, maybe it’s worth considering.
Twenty years for research? That seems wildly disproportionate. We need nuanced regulation, not a blanket criminalization of advanced computing.