Bernie Sanders on Regulating AI: 'The Most Consequential Technology in Human History'

The longtime Vermont senator has long championed progressive ideas, from universal healthcare to free college tuition. Now, he's turning his attention to the AI industry, advocating for firm and decisive regulation. In March, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation to halt data center construction until safeguards are implemented.

In June, Sanders announced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would tax AI's richest companies and result in direct payments to American citizens. Sanders sat down with WIRED to discuss his perspective on AI, the barriers to regulation, and whether those obstacles can be overcome. The senator described AI as "the most consequential, transformational technology in the history of humanity." He emphasized that AI is being pushed by the wealthiest individuals in the world, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, who "could care less about the needs of ordinary people." The senator's efforts to regulate AI come as a coalition of democratic socialists swept their respective elections, sending party stalwarts into an existential tailspin.

New Jersey representative Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, became the most mainstream member of the party to publicly support an AI data center moratorium. The uber-wealthy elites aren't going away anytime soon. Neither is the president or his band of barely competent cronies.

But the anger of an American majority, across party lines, might soon run deeper. They're fighting data centers at town halls across the country, turning out by the millions at nationwide protests, and spurning establishment candidates at the polls. Something, it seems, is breaking.

Something has to break. Why this matters: The push for AI regulation has significant implications for the tech industry, consumers, and the broader economy. Sanders' efforts, alongside those of Ocasio-Cortez and Pallone, signal a growing momentum for change.

As AI continues to transform industries and shape society, the question remains whether regulators can effectively balance innovation with safeguards for ordinary people. The outcome will have far-reaching consequences for the future of AI development, deployment, and governance. Developers and businesses must consider the potential impact of stricter regulations on their operations, while consumers may benefit from increased protections and accountability.

Ultimately, the success of these efforts will depend on the ability of lawmakers to overcome entrenched interests and create meaningful change.