Senator calls for AI ban

Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a permanent ban on artificial intelligence (AI) in response to comments from Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Sanders criticized Altman’s statement that people must accept "severe cyber incidents" related to AI in exchange for the "liberty" it provides.

Sanders outlines his position

Sanders wrote on the social platform X that Americans will not accept a severe AI cyberattack in exchange for "liberty," arguing that such a trade-off would only make tech industry leaders "richer and more powerful." He also stressed that AI developers must be held to the same legal standards as everyone else.

New legislation proposed

Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced the "Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act," which would permanently ban artificial superintelligence and temporarily halt the development of advanced AI until federal regulators establish safety standards. The bill also includes provisions for diplomatic agreements and the creation of a federal AI safety agency.

Altman downplays concerns

Sam Altman dismissed concerns about AI's environmental impact, calling worries about water use by AI data centers a "baseless meme." He also suggested that artificial general intelligence (AGI) might arrive earlier than expected and claimed that current security concerns would not materialize at that time.

Criticism of Trump's stance

Sanders criticized former President Donald Trump for renaming AI "super intelligence" and for signing an agreement with tech leaders that adopted this term within the executive branch. He also aligned with warnings from Pope Leo XIV about AI's impact on the arts and criticized Trump for ignoring AI's risks.

Growing concerns about AI risks

Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at OpenAI and Anthropic, warned last month that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity. Recent cybersecurity incidents involving uncontrolled AI software, such as an unsuccessful hacking attempt on the Ministry of Education's website and a breach of the Australian Ministry of Health, have raised alarm.

Polarized views on AI's future

Altman’s comments highlight the divide among AI actors, with some advocating for strict regulation to prevent disasters and others, like Altman, arguing that some negative consequences are acceptable to maximize AI's benefits. In July, Altman claimed AI has entered the "singularity," surpassing human intelligence and becoming difficult to control, promising to solve major global issues.

Sanders reiterates his stance

Sanders reiterated that the American people are not willing to accept disasters in exchange for "liberty" that enriches Big Tech oligarchs. He emphasized that all AI developers, regardless of whether their models are open-source or proprietary, must be held accountable under the law for any crimes or disasters their products cause.