Story perspectives

Sanders and Casar Introduce Bill to Ban Superintelligence

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 11:46 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Corporate Death Penalty

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced legislation on September 23, 2026, to ban artificial superintelligence and create an AI agency.
The bill frames the AI ban as to protect public safety and millions of jobs threatened by unchecked AI development.
Violations could carry up to 20 years in prison, comparable to nuclear weapons penalties.
The bill authorizes seizure of AI companies’ assets as a “corporate death penalty.”

Right

AI Fears Hoax

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced legislation to ban artificial superintelligence and create an AI agency on Sept. 23, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump called AI fears a hoax, claimed the ban would aid China, and announced a White House meeting with Xi Jinping.
The bill creates a Cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence.
Department must set safety rules and approve advanced AI before deployment.

Blindspot

The legislation includes a “corporate death penalty,” permitting the government to seize the intellectual property and assets of AI companies that violate the superintelligence ban, according to the bill’s sponsors.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In April 2021 the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, proposed the AI Act—introducing risk-based rules and fines of up to 20 % of global turnover (?€30 million). The proposal, part of the EU’s broader digital-rights agenda, set a precedent that inspired the September 23 2026 U.S. bill by Senators Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar to ban artificial superintelligence, raising prospects of cross-border compliance battles.

1 of 4

Corporate Death Penalty

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced legislation on September 23, 2026, to ban artificial superintelligence and create an AI agency.
The bill frames the AI ban as to protect public safety and millions of jobs threatened by unchecked AI development.
Violations could carry up to 20 years in prison, comparable to nuclear weapons penalties.
The bill authorizes seizure of AI companies’ assets as a “corporate death penalty.”

1 / 4