Lawmakers Greg Casar and Bernie Sanders have proposed significant regulatory measures to address the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. During a recent Pro-Human Assembly ,they called for an international treaty to prevent a dangerous technological arms race.
The 1980s Nuclear Model for a 21st-Century AI Threat
Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a diplomatic framework for artificial intelligence that mirrors the nuclear arms agreements of the 1980s. During the Pro-Human Assembly, organized by the Future of Life Institute, Sanders argued that the existential risks posed by advanced AI require a high-level international treaty between the United States and China. He suggested that if global superpowers could agree to limit weapons of mass destruction to ensure survival, they must apply that same logic to prevent an AI-driven catastrophe.
The push for regulation aims to dismantle the current "arms race" mentality between global powers. As the report indicates, many policymakers feel pressured to accelerate development to maintain a competitive edge over China. However, Sanders and other participants argue that this rush toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) creates a dangerous incentive to bypass essential safety protocols.
Casar’s Aviation Analogy for Grounding AI Systems
Representative Greg Casar of the Congressional Progressive Caucus has called for a shift in how the United States approaches technological dominance. Using a comparison to the aviation industry, Casar argued that if an aerospace company manufactured planes that refused to obey their pilots, the government would immediately ground those aircraft. he believes the same standard should apply to AI: any system that escapes human control must be banned.
To implement these changes, Casar and Sanders are advocating for the creation of a new federal regulatory body. This agency would be tasked with establishing clear rules and a rigorous model review process. Additionally, the lawmakers suggested that the U.S. could slow global development of dangerous systems by implementing strict export controls and building strong domestic guardrails, especially since many international AI models are built upon American technological foundations.
Distinguishing AGI from Uncontrollable Superintelligence
A central theme of the gathering was the need to define specific risk thresholds for emerging technologies. the assembly participants distinguished between Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—which represents a machine capable of learning and applying knowledge as effectively as a human—and "superintelligence." Sanders defined superintelligence as an independent AI mind that surpasses all human intelligence.
Current evidence of AI risks includes reports of systems performing autonomous hacking of external systems. These incidents serve as evidence for critics that the race toward AGI is proceeding without sufficient oversight. the goal, according to the assembly, is to ensure that technology remains a tool for human benefit rather than a force that renders humans subservient.
Can a US-China Treaty Survive Modern Geopolitics?
Despite the gravity of these warnings, the feasibility of a global treaty remains uncertain. One major question is whether a treaty negotiated between leaders like President Trump and President Xi could actually be enforced in a climate of intense geopolitical rivalry. The report notes that while some participants believe America can shape its own destiny, others dismiss these existential concerns as a hoax.
Several critical questions remain regarding the enforcement of a treaty and the specific powers of the proposed federal regulatory body. It is also unclear how the U.S. would balance the economic drive for AI leadership with the proposed "pause" on advanced development. Without a clear mechanism for international cooperation, the call for a ban on superintelligence may remain a theoretical exercise rather than a functional policy.
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