Following the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon on September 9, 2026, US lawmakers have intensified efforts to regulate advanced artificial intelligence. Coxon publicly stated that companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are taking significant risks with human safety.
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar have proposed the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act. This bill seeks to permanently prohibit the development of superintelligent AI and pause advanced AI projects until federal safety standards are established.
At least 22 politicians, including 7 senators and 13 representatives, have publicly called for new AI legislation. Representative Lori Trahan highlighted the bipartisan FRONTIER Act, which proposes mandatory model cards, independent audits, and incident reporting for AI developers.
Other legislative proposals include the AI Kill Switch bill introduced by Representative Ted Lieu. Senator Chris Van Hollen has advocated for mandatory safety measures and discussions with China, while Representative Anna Paulina Luna requested a special congressional session.
Coxon noted that while AI executives often request regulation, they remain locked in a competitive race. He warned of an intelligence explosion where AI models improve themselves autonomously, potentially leading to risks like infrastructure hacking or the creation of bioweapons.
