Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026
Creates a federal AI department, pauses advanced AI development until safety rules are in place, and bans superintelligence and systems with precursor traits.
In the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee since Sept. 23, 2026, 13 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 23, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Advanced AI raises questions about how to keep powerful systems safe and under human control. The bill would create a federal AI department, pause development of advanced systems until safety rules are in place, and prohibit superintelligence and systems with traits that could lead to it. It would also require charters and release approvals, and set penalties for violations.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create an AI department
The bill would establish a Department of Artificial Intelligence, led by a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed Secretary. An advisory board selected by the Secretary would provide scientific and technical advice.
- Pause advanced AI development
Advanced AI systems would have to stop being trained, modified, or fine-tuned until the Secretary determines the department is fully staffed and has issued safety rules. The rules would cover development plans, ongoing monitoring, safety audits, and approval before public release; unreleased advanced systems could not be deployed during the pause.
- Ban superintelligence and precursor systems
People and organizations could not develop, deploy, acquire, possess, fund, import, or transfer artificial superintelligence or systems with traits that could lead to it. The Secretary would have to pause and isolate identified precursor systems, and render a system inoperative if it is identified as superintelligence or cannot be verified as free of precursor traits.
- Require charters and release approval
Developing or distributing an advanced AI model would require a department charter, and deploying, releasing, importing, or transferring an advanced AI system would require approval. Charter holders would have to give the Secretary access to systems, staff, processes, and facilities for enforcement.
- Penalize violations and protect whistleblowers
A policymaking individual at a chartered organization or a person unaffiliated with one who recklessly violates covered requirements could face a fine and up to 20 years in prison; other employees could be barred from the AI industry for 10 years. Organizations could lose their charters and, after a court upholds a violation finding, have assets and intellectual property forfeited; the bill also bars retaliation against people who report violations.
- Coordinate international prevention
The Secretary, working with the Secretary of State, would pursue international agreements and coordination with allies to prevent artificial superintelligence. U.S. policy would aim to prevent its development globally and could include export controls on AI computing infrastructure.
The bill cites warnings from AI researchers and industry leaders about possible catastrophic harms, including loss of control over advanced systems and risks involving infrastructure or biological weapons. Those are findings and concerns stated by the bill, not established outcomes.
The bill would put prevention of artificial superintelligence at the center of federal AI oversight, including by allowing systems to be paused or rendered inoperative and by restricting development and release. It would also seek international cooperation to prevent such systems from being developed globally.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 23, 2026SENATESEP 23, 2026By Sen. SandersReferred to Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 23, 2026COMMERCE, SCIENCE, & TRANSPORTATION NOWSEP 23, 2026In committee for 13 daysNo hearing yet
- 13 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 13, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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