In March, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont conducted an unusual event where he “interviewed” Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, regarding AI’s role globally. He queried Claude on the consequences of AI data collection for democracy and asked whether a moratorium on developing new AI data centers would be prudent.
Sanders seemed to treat an AI chatbot as if it were a sentient being, asking it about its regulation. This approach is becoming a trend. In April, Sanders referenced Geoffrey Hinton’s assertion on CNN that AI, if becoming smarter than humans, poses a 10% to 20% chance of leading to humanity’s extinction. This language echoed sentiments from figures like Elon Musk.
Despite disagreements from many experts, tech leaders in Silicon Valley promote the notion that AI is on the brink of achieving godlike capabilities, potentially wielding dangerous power and possibly ruling the world. This narrative boosts hype and stock prices. Consequently, some left-leaning Democrats, including Sanders, inadvertently publicity this vision of an apocalyptic future.
The concern about AI from progressive circles is understandable. The technology’s use in military targeting and government surveillance raises alarms. AI could also displace millions of jobs, and its infrastructure demands substantial energy and capital.
However, progressives struggle to present a realistic AI agenda. On March 25, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed a bill for a moratorium on data center construction until safety regulations are set to safeguard a vaguely defined “future of humanity.” While establishing AI safety rules is sensible, the moratorium’s feasibility and effectiveness are in doubt. Additionally, the bill inadvertently supports industry narratives by citing billionaire perspectives, such as those of Musk, Gates, and Ellison, on AI’s catastrophic potential.
Other Democrats have introduced bills with minor AI regulation tweaks. In 2024, Representative Summer Lee and Senator Edward J. Markey proposed oversight of algorithmic bias in federal agencies. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware suggested legislation encouraging technology development aligned with human rights, including AI. These bills proposed modest changes to existing law but stalled in committee and did not advance toward becoming law.