CryptoSlate
Erik Voorhees, founder of AI service Venice, warned on Nov. 12 against handing politicians control over artificial intelligence, writing "Do not let Sauron have the ring" as concrete federal proposals to gate AI releases advance in Washington. The Sanders-Casar Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, S.5493, announced Sept. 23, would create a Department of Artificial Intelligence and bar anyone from deploying or releasing a covered advanced AI system without its approval. Abdul El-Sayed's Senate campaign platform, published Oct. 13, calls for an independent Cabinet-level agency empowered to inspect laboratories, block releases, order pauses and command shutdowns.
Why it matters
The debate crystallized after All-In co-host David Sacks predicted on the Nov. 7 episode that a Democratic-controlled Congress would push for a federal department reviewing the most advanced models and withholding release until its concerns are addressed. Sacks went further, alleging Democratic interest in AI-powered surveillance and censorship, though the proposals as written establish release-blocking powers, not those motives; El-Sayed's document explicitly opposes warrantless surveillance. Voorhees's objection is structural rather than partisan: any agency holding a veto over releases retains concentrated authority even with outside scientific oversight, and he argues open-source transparency and decentralization deliver safety better than licensing.
Market impact
Sacks also flagged a possible bargain in which government gains power while closed-model companies gain regulatory protection, a dynamic that could entrench incumbent AI developers against open-source and decentralized competitors. Voorhees has a direct stake through Venice, which runs on leading open-source models, tying his position to the broader crypto-adjacent thesis that decentralized AI infrastructure is the hedge against gatekeeping risk. The next test is whether either proposal wins committee action and leadership backing in the next Congress, and what any final text says about release criteria and review of adverse decisions.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act?
The Sanders-Casar bill, S.5493, announced Sept. 23, would establish a Department of Artificial Intelligence, pause advanced AI development pending a regulatory framework and prohibit artificial superintelligence.
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What powers would the proposed Department of Artificial Intelligence have?
Section 9(d) would prevent deploying, releasing, importing or transferring an advanced AI system without the department's approval, with inspections for dangerous characteristics and charter requirements giving regulators access to systems and infrastructure.
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What did Erik Voorhees say about AI regulation?
On Nov. 12 he wrote "Do not let Sauron have the ring," warning against concentrated political control of AI and arguing that open-source transparency and decentralization provide better safety than licensing.
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What did David Sacks predict about AI legislation?
On the Nov. 7 All-In episode he predicted a Democratic push for a federal department reviewing frontier AI models and withholding release until concerns are addressed, and alleged surveillance and censorship motives the proposals do not establish.
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What is Abdul El-Sayed's AI platform?
His Oct. 13 "AI Under Control" platform calls for an independent Cabinet-level agency that can inspect laboratories, block releases, order pauses and command shutdowns, while explicitly opposing warrantless surveillance.
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