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US Senator Bernie Sanders recently said he intends to introduce legislation banning AI superintelligence and propose a sort of sovereign wealth fund in which the US would take a 50% stake in AI companies.

Sanders, who is an independent but often collaborates with his Democratic lawmaker colleagues, would need to pass both houses of Congress - currently held by Republicans - and be signed by President Donald Trump to become law. Trump has championed US government investment in AI companies, to "create almost a partnership with the American public".

The US senator spoke to BBC Newsnight about his concerns about artificial intelligence overtaking humanity.

Bernie Sanders speaks to the BBC about proposal to ban AI superintelligence. Video, 00:01:26Bernie Sanders speaks to the BBC about proposal to ban AI superintelligence

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