In late March, Senator Bernie Sanders held an unusual event where he interacted with Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, to discuss AI’s impact on democracy. Sanders asked Claude if it supported a halt on new AI data centers. This event highlighted Sanders’s approach to AI as if it were a sentient being rather than software.
During a CNN appearance in April, Sanders referenced AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton’s warning about the potential threat AI might pose if it surpasses human intelligence. Hinton suggested a 10 to 20 percent chance of AI leading to human extinction, similar to sentiments seen in Elon Musk’s statements. Sanders seems uninterested in a balanced discussion on AI management.
Despite disagreements from many experts, tech leaders continue promoting the idea of AI’s looming godlike power. This notion boosts hype and stock values. Interestingly, some left-leaning Democrats, including Sanders, inadvertently support this narrative by lacking a consistent AI policy and leaning toward an apocalyptic view of AI’s future.
The left’s concerns about AI focus on its military applications, potential to increase government surveillance, job losses, and the significant energy and capital demands of AI infrastructure. However, they’re facing challenges in proposing a realistic AI agenda.
On March 25, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation for a moratorium on data center construction until measures are in place to ensure AI doesn’t jeopardize humanity’s future. Although establishing AI safety regulations is wise, it’s unrealistic to expect a moratorium to achieve these goals. The bill also amplifies industry narratives by citing comments from billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Larry Ellison about AI’s catastrophic risks.
Other Democrats have proposed narrower AI regulations. In 2024, Representative Summer Lee and Senator Edward J. Markey introduced a bill for oversight on algorithmic bias in federal agencies. Senator Chris Coons also proposed laws promoting technology aligned with human rights, presumably including AI. Unfortunately, these bills are minor legal adjustments and have stalled in committees, far from reaching the White House.