Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act on 23 September. It would permanently ban building or deploying superintelligent AI and pause advanced AI development until a new cabinet-level Department of AI writes safety rules, with prison terms of up to 20 years for anyone who breaks it. It won't pass a Republican-controlled Congress. Its value is as a marker: criminal penalties for AI development are now a live proposal in Washington, and a year ago they weren't. Nothing changes for UK companies today. What has changed is the tone of the US debate, from voluntary pledges to talk of prison sentences.