Washington — While progressive lawmakers led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑VT) and Rep. Greg Casar (D‑TX) unveiled legislation on Wednesday to prohibit artificial superintelligence and establish a federal Department of Artificial Intelligence, the Trump administration is openly resisting the move. President Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that AI will be renamed “super intelligence,” emphasizing the need for continued American leadership in the field.
Bill Details and Progressive Support
The proposed bill would permanently ban any AI system that exceeds human cognitive ability or could plan and execute the destruction or disempowerment of humanity. It also calls for a temporary pause on the development of the most advanced AI systems until new federal safety rules are in place, after which deployment would require agency approval. Violations could carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
Supporters from within the tech sector have signed on, including Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe, a researcher in OpenAI’s Safety Systems, who warned that “superintelligence could either go extremely right or extremely wrong.” Swante Scholz, a software engineer at Google DeepMind, said the “most likely outcome is an existential catastrophe for humanity” if development proceeds unchecked, calling a ban a “positive change for the foreseeable future.”
Administration’s Counterpoint
President Trump has repeatedly resisted calls for sweeping government oversight of AI, arguing that excessive regulation would undermine U.S. innovation and economic growth. In his UN remarks, Trump suggested that renaming the technology could help clarify its purpose, but he also stressed that America must remain the world’s premier AI developer.
“We cannot afford to halt progress while other nations race ahead,” Trump said. “Our businesses, our workers, and our families depend on continued leadership in this critical technology.” The administration’s stance aligns with industry leaders such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and xAI’s Elon Musk, all of whom have expressed concern that heavy‑handed regulation could give foreign competitors an advantage.
Political Landscape
The bill faces steep odds in the Republican‑controlled Congress, where many lawmakers have struggled to coalesce around even modest AI safeguards. Nonetheless, the proposal highlights the growing divide between progressive policymakers and the administration on how to manage emerging technologies.
Sanders, now 85 and a two‑time presidential candidate, has been active on AI policy, previously introducing legislation to create a sovereign wealth fund financed by a one‑time tax on the stock of the largest AI companies. He also hosted a briefing with experts and attended a bipartisan conference that included former White House adviser Steve Bannon.
Public Concern Grows
A recent Associated Press‑NORC poll shows that 53% of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI’s environmental impacts, up from 41% a year ago. While the rise in concern is notable, the poll also indicates that many voters remain hopeful that responsible innovation can address these issues.
Democratic governors in Maryland and California have announced their own AI strategies, with Gov. Wes Moore proposing new state‑level protections and Gov. Gavin Newsom signing an executive order for independent oversight of AI companies.
Looking Ahead
AI safety will be a central topic in upcoming talks between President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping at the White House, as both nations vie for dominance in the sector. Sanders likened the challenge to Cold‑War nuclear arms control, urging cooperation between the United States and China to avoid catastrophic outcomes.
“Ronald Reagan, an arch‑conservative, sat down with Gorbachev to protect humanity,” Sanders said. “We can do the same today.” The debate over how to balance innovation with safety is set to continue throughout the remainder of the Trump administration and into the 2028 election cycle.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
