• Rep.Ansari calls for a ban on artificial superintelligence.
  • She is also asking for more oversight of the industry.
  • In September, two lawmakers introduced a bill to ban artificial superintelligence

US Representative Yassamin Ansari believes Democrats should push for a pause in the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. On X, she urged her party members to call for slower AI development, tighter industry oversight, and a prohibition on artificial superintelligence. 

Her remarks come at a time when Democrats are scoring major wins in the US midterm elections.

Representative Ansari has been calling for intervention on AI for months

The Arizona Representative outlined her agenda: “Top of the Democratic agenda on day 1 needs to be a pause on advanced AI development, regulation of this out-of-control industry, and a ban on artificial superintelligence.” 

Some X users welcomed her proposal, while others pushed back against the idea. For those opposed to her idea, a few brought up how important AI is for medical discoveries and other breakthroughs; plenty of others also felt the Democratic Party needs to focus on daily struggles right now—namely, making life affordable and bringing down gas prices. Some also pointed out that this could mean the US is left behind in advancement by rival nations.

This isn’t the first time Ansari has championed the idea. During a press conference on September 9, 2026, she called for a ban on artificial superintelligence and an immediate pause on any further development.

She doubled down on X in mid-October, emphasizing that failing to regulate AI is a complete betrayal of the American people and warning that continued inaction will lead to nothing short of disaster. She argued that the industry deserves the same strict oversight as other high-stakes industries, such as aviation.

Lawmakers introduced a bill to ban superintelligence

Ansari is not the only one pushing for a ban on artificial superintelligence. In late September, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar unveiled legislation Wednesday that would ban artificial superintelligence. 

Artificial superintelligence refers to a hypothetical form of AI that would surpass human intelligence across virtually every cognitive task.

The legislation proposes a two-tier system for ‘superintelligence’. Near-term provisions stop training advanced AI until a cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence establishes safety metrics. Long-term provisions prohibit development of superintelligent systems forever. It also explicitly states that non-compliance will be punished with severe legal consequences: non-compliant corporations will be dissolved, and individuals will face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

At the time, several employees from major AI companies voiced support for the bill. Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe, a researcher in OpenAI’s Safety Systems, for starters, contended that superintelligence development could go either incredibly well or terribly wrong—thus it’s simply not something we should gamble with. Moreover, Swante Scholz, a software engineer at Google DeepMind, noted that, under the current course, the most probable outcome is an existential disaster for humanity. 

Back then, Senator Bernie Sanders also weighed in, stating, “It doesn’t take a genius to say, ‘Slow it down. Do we really want to develop a superintelligence that, when it becomes smarter than human beings, could act independently of human control? I don’t think we do.” 

In another statement, he noted, “This legislation will permanently ban the development of artificial superintelligence and would put in place an immediate pause on advanced AI development until we have clear safety rules in place — developed by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country. Congress must act now before it is too late.” 

His counterpart, Caesar, had similarly warned that the bill would curb dangerous AI capabilities, including the potential to design biochemical weapons or develop new AI systems without human oversight.

As of last month, the bill was still being reviewed by the committee. 

Trump administration favors faster AI development

Ansari’s plan is at odds with the Trump administration’s AI development policy. While the Arizona Democrat wants an immediate halt on advanced AI research and more industry oversight, Trump has pushed for faster domestic innovation in AI and fewer regulatory hurdles.

On June 2, Trump issued an executive order that called for measures to “strengthen America’s AI capabilities and cybersecurity” but rejected “mandatory government licensing or pre-approval requirements for AI models.” The order favored a voluntary framework for how developers would be engaged.

The divergent positions reflect a broader debate in Washington about whether the US should slow down the development of advanced AI to address safety concerns or push further to keep pace with technology.

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FAQs

Why is Yassamin Ansari calling for a pause in AI development?

Ansari argues that advanced AI development needs stricter oversight to prevent potential risks associated with increasingly powerful systems. She wants Democrats to prioritize a pause on advanced AI development and a ban on artificial superintelligence.

What does the Sanders-Casar bill propose?

The proposed legislation seeks to temporarily halt advanced AI development until safety standards are established and permanently prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence. It also outlines penalties for companies and individuals that violate its provisions.

Does Donald Trump support a pause in AI development?

No. Trump's administration has favored accelerating US AI development and strengthening domestic innovation. His June 2 executive order rejected mandatory government licensing and pre-approval requirements for AI models, contrasting with Ansari's calls for stricter regulation.

Nellius Irene

Nellius is a Business Management and IT graduate with five years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry. She is also a graduate of Bitcoin Dada. Nellius has contributed to leading media publications, including BanklessTimes, Cryptobasic, and Riseup Media.

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