Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has escalated his campaign for stricter regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that a small group of Big Tech billionaires should not control the technology without public input. In a post on X, Sanders stated, 'The most pressing issue of our time is oligarchy & the power of Big Tech billionaires over AI,' warning that allowing a handful of individuals to 'play God' and determine the future of humanity, the economy, and democracy is unacceptable.
To address these concerns, Sanders and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas) announced the 'Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act.' The proposed legislation aims to permanently prohibit the development and deployment of superintelligent AI. Additionally, the bill calls for a temporary pause on advanced AI development until a federal regulator establishes safety standards. It also seeks to establish international agreements to prevent the global development of superintelligence.
Beyond the specific ban on superintelligence, Sanders has expanded his regulatory push to include data centers. He has advocated for a national moratorium on data centers and, in June, proposed that the government should take public ownership stakes in major AI labs. This would give the public a say in deployment decisions. The proposal has drawn criticism from investors and technology policy advocates. For instance, Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman argued that halting U.S. development could allow geopolitical rivals to reach superintelligence first.
Other industry leaders have offered differing perspectives on the regulatory landscape. Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang urged regulators to focus on real-world risks rather than 'hypothetical theoretical harm.' Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates expressed support for a credible global plan to slow AI advances, though he acknowledged such a plan is unlikely.
