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3 September 2026 · US Congress

Sanders and Casar propose a ban on artificial superintelligence

On 3 September, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Greg Casar announced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act. They introduced it on 23 September. It includes a pause on advanced AI development in the United States until a new federal regulator has set safety rules. Separately, Ted Lieu and Nathaniel Moran introduced the AI Kill Switch Act on 23 July. That bill requires companies to be able to shut down or slow down their most powerful models.

By Mara Masaeva · Updated 29 September 2026

PoliticsConfirmedMore than one independent source, or a primary document.

What happened

The two bills start from different ideas about the problem. According to the first, superintelligence should not be built at all. The second accepts that it will be built, but wants someone to be able to switch it off.

Both bills have been introduced, and neither has been passed. In the House, the superintelligence ban is H.R. 10538 and the kill switch bill is H.R. 9917. For now, they mostly show how far the American political debate has moved in a single year.

What may follow

Compare this with 7 May in Brussels. In the United States, one bill proposes to pause development and another to require an off switch. In Europe, lawmakers agreed to lighten rules that already exist.

I do not think either side is simply right. But a Belgian audience should know that in 2026 it was Europe, with the strictest AI law in the world, that moved towards fewer rules.

What I do not know

I have not found a Senate bill number for the Sanders version yet.

My notes

Introduced does not mean passed. Say so before making the comparison, or it is unfair to Brussels.

The comparison with 7 May carries the slide. Two ideas about the problem in Washington, and a postponement in Europe.

Read next

Sources

  1. Sen. Bernie Sanders: Sanders, Casar to introduce legislation to ban artificial superintelligence (3 September 2026)primary · main source

    The announcement by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). A second release of 23 September marks the introduction.

  2. Congress.gov: H.R. 10538, Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026 (introduced text)primary

    House version, dated 24 September 2026 in the House record, introduced by Mr. Casar with nine co-sponsors and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

  3. Congress.gov: H.R. 9917, AI Kill Switch Act (introduced text)primary

    Introduced on 23 July 2026 by Mr. Lieu for himself and Mr. Moran, referred to the Committee on Homeland Security.