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Bloomington Councilmember Proposes Superintelligence Ban

The proposed ordinance would penalize the use of superintelligent AI within city limits.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration showing a metallic sphere on a pedestal, representing the proposed regulatory perimeter for artificial intelligence in Bloomington.
Bloomington City Councilmember Dave Rollo has proposed an ordinance to prohibit the use of superintelligent artificial intelligence within city limits. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local governments enact their own bans on advanced artificial intelligence technology?

Bloomington City Councilmember Dave Rollo has proposed an ordinance to prohibit superintelligent artificial intelligence within the city. The measure aims to establish an interim safety perimeter against potential catastrophic risks until higher-level government regulation is enacted.

Why it matters

The proposal seeks to mitigate dangers associated with AI that exceeds human cognitive performance across all domains. It functions as a local safeguard to address fears that such systems could eventually escape human control.

The ordinance mandates a 95% supermajority of registered voters to reverse the ban if adopted. Violations of the code, which covers AI accessed via browsers, APIs, or local hardware, carry daily fines of up to $2,500.

The players

Dave Rollo

Dave Rollo is a Bloomington City Councilmember who has been the primary advocate for local regulatory measures regarding advanced artificial intelligence.

The details

The ordinance would remain in effect until 91 days after Indiana establishes a comprehensive framework for Provably Safe Superintelligence. It builds upon a nonbinding resolution regarding AI risks that the City Council unanimously approved on June 10, 2026.

Timeline

  1. July 2023: Dave Rollo introduced a nonbinding AI resolution.

  2. June 10, 2026: Council approved a resolution on AI risks.

  3. October 14, 2026: The ordinance was introduced at the council meeting.

  4. November 4, 2026: A final vote on the ordinance is scheduled.

The Tech Race

This proposal reflects a growing trend of municipal attempts to preemptively regulate autonomous systems, mirroring similar efforts in locations like Walton County, Florida. It highlights the friction between rapid technological advancement and local legislative oversight.

Residents and local businesses may face significant civil fines if they interact with systems defined as superintelligent. The potential restriction covers AI accessed through standard web browsers, APIs, and local computing hardware.

The takeaway

This ordinance represents a rare attempt to codify AI safety requirements at the municipal level. Residents should monitor the upcoming November vote to understand how it may restrict their access to certain software tools in the future.

What happens next

The Bloomington City Council is scheduled to hold a final vote on the proposed ordinance on November 4, 2026.

Further reading

For more context on how cities are responding to new technologies, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.

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Should local governments enact their own bans on advanced artificial intelligence technology?