GoKawiilDemocrats push bill to require federal permit before training advanced AI models
Representatives Greg Casar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with Senator Bernie Sanders, are advancing the Ban Superintelligence Act, which would create a new Department of Artificial Intelligence to issue permits for building 'advanced' AI systems. The bill would let the department's secretary define what counts as advanced AI, demand full access to labs' digital and physical infrastructure, and impose penalties up to 20 years in prison for noncompliant 'rogue actors,' plus 10-year industry bans for individuals. Other Democrats, including Yassamin Ansari and Ted Lieu, have separately called for pausing advanced AI development and tightening oversight of the industry.