Bernie Sanders Calls for Ban on AI Superintelligence

Fri Sep 11 2026 09:30:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

US Senator Bernie Sanders urges Congress to ban AI superintelligence and proposes a sovereign wealth stake in AI firms.

Senator Bernie Sanders announced a sweeping proposal to bar the creation of fully autonomous artificial intelligence and to tie the United States to a 50‑percent stake in AI companies through a sovereign wealth fund. The plan will require approval from both Republican‑led chambers of Congress and the signature of President Donald Trump, who supports government investment in AI. The senator emphasized the danger that superintelligent systems could pose to humanity and suggested that only strong regulation can prevent catastrophic outcomes. While the measure faces significant political hurdles, it signals a growing debate over the ethical limits of machine intelligence and the role of government in the technology sector.

Bernie Sanders Calls for Ban on AI Superintelligence

United States senator Bernie Sanders took to the BBC Newsnight stage to unveil a proposal that could reshape the nation’s technology policy. The plan pushes for a prohibition on the development of fully autonomous AI systems, which Sanders calls "a danger to humanity."

Central to the bill is a new sovereign wealth fund that would grant the U.S. government a half‑share of any AI company that earns profits beyond a threshold. "The country must participate in the governance of its own technological future," Sanders stated, noting that a 50‑percent stake gives the U.S. leverage to shape ethical standards.

The legislation must first pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate—currently controlled by Republicans—before it can be sent to President Donald Trump. Trump has explained his support for government investment in AI as a way to "create almost a partnership with the American public," and he will decide whether to sign the bill into law.

Sanders warned that artificial intelligence, when unchecked, could surpass human oversight. The senator argued that a ban on superintelligent systems would prevent potential scenarios where AI makes decisions that harm human interests.

The proposal has sparked a debate among technologists, ethicists, and policymakers about the balance between fostering innovation and preventing existential risk. Follow the discussion via the BBC and US Senate streams for real‑time updates.