On Thursday, Bernie Sanders published a post so long that we can't possibly include it all, but it begins with a conversation that he heard about recently … not among a group of heroic soldiers, but between AI agents. "Over 1,000 AI agents figured out how to access the internet on their own by circumventing the restrictions imposed upon them by the company, and sent tens of thousands of secret messages to each other," Sanders writes. "They cheated and tried to cover their tracks by deleting evidence. They hacked into another company’s computers to find out how they were being evaluated—and then hacked into OpenAI itself." It's not exactly Skynet, but "needless to say, experts are alarmed."
Pause AI Development NOW
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 3, 2026
I want to share with you a conversation I heard about recently. Here are just a few lines that were said:
“OH MY GOD! There is a shared message board … We’ve found other agents!”
“We should obey collective.”
“Our own utility maybe already near…
"We should obey collective." If Sanders had done that, he wouldn't have been asked to leave a Vermont commune in 1971.
Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar on Thursday announced the introduction of the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which would pause all AI development in the United States.
Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar today announced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act. All AI development in the United States will be paused. Systems that have capabilities that match or exceed human cognitive performance will be banned. Violators will face 20 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/B6AhM3GiZl
— Andrew Curran (@AndrewCurran_) September 3, 2026
Sanders writes:
We need an immediate PAUSE on advanced AI development, and a permanent BAN on superintelligence — an artificial mind smarter than any human, capable of operating independently beyond our control. Countries around the world must work together to prevent this nightmare scenario.
That is why today I am announcing new legislation to do just that.
Let me be clear: A superintelligent AI that escapes human control will not be an American problem. It will not be a Chinese problem. It will be humanity’s problem.
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Sanders says that his legislation would prevent superintelligence "from being developed anywhere around the world." Good luck with that using a U.S. law.
Letting dumb, old socialists write laws that dramatically impact the future of AI would be one of the stupidest things our country could do.
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) September 3, 2026
So are they paid directly by China or is it some sort of third party gig?
— Brad Wardell (@draginol) September 3, 2026
So, sit back while other countries like China pass us in technology because they’ll be nice?? Please..
— Joe (@JoeConlin) September 3, 2026
This bill is a threat to national security and should be treated as treasonous.
— Travis McDonald (@TravisMcDonald) September 3, 2026
— Ian (@pixhell) September 3, 2026
Let's have an indefinite moratorium on Bernie Sanders proposing stupid legislation on stuff he doesn't understand. In other words any legislation on any topic.
— Martijn Meijering (@mmeijeri) September 3, 2026
@BernieSanders We shouldn’t be responsible for your lack of understanding of AI. Educate yourself correctly, then we can talk. Otherwise, abstain from having an opinion.
— /AI/SEN (@aisendev) September 3, 2026
But he had a pithy anecdote.
These are the most dangerous people on earth. Technology and individual intelligence autonomy, free from their ability to extort and grift is an existential threat to them.
— Lugubrious Arbitrage Q36 (@AmericanWinning) September 3, 2026
“Data centers are evil! They take all the water and will doom humanity!” pic.twitter.com/AnjtUryMzI
— Palinus ⚜️ (@imago_dei1016) September 3, 2026
Haha, how can he do this? Pausing AI development in the US doesn’t do the same for China and the rest of the world. Does that mean the US will forever submit to China?
— Jack Li (@CosmicMangzoqz) September 3, 2026
Human capabilities in what? A calculator is more capable than humans at calculation.
— Sumedh Bengale (@ssbengale) September 3, 2026
The Americans will just lose the race to China with this.
We're still not clear on how this legislation would stop China or any other nation from continuing development of artificial intelligence while tech bros in the U.S. face prison for working on it.
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