Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation Wednesday to create a new Department of Artificial Intelligence and ban artificial superintelligence until AI can be regulated in a way to ensure it doesn’t destroy humanity. But the timing of Sanders’ new Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act is a bit awkward, if only because President Donald Trump wants to rename AI itself as “Super Intelligence.”

“When you are racing towards a cliff, you don’t just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake, we cannot let a handful of Big Tech CEOs write their own rules,” Sen. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, said in a statement posted online.

“Scientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity. It must be treated as such,” continued Sanders. “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.”

The legislation is being introduced in the House by Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat from Texas, who warns that international agreements are needed to ensure AI doesn’t go rogue and wipe out all humans. The bill would impose a penalty of up to 20 years in prison for violating the bill, which the legislators note is similar to the punishment for unlawfully developing nuclear weapons.

President Trump gave a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, rambling about many issues and threatening the annihilation of Iran.

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