US senator Bernie Sanders has criticised artificial intelligence, linking billionaire-driven development to economic insecurity and warning it could be the most consequential technology in history.
He questioned how people would earn income, access healthcare, or pay rent if AI eliminates jobs, arguing that Congress has barely addressed these risks. Sanders accused tech leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Peter Thiel of prioritising wealth and power over the well-being of workers.
He also warned about growing reliance on AI chatbots for emotional support and the potential harm to human relationships and mental health. Separately, Republican senator Katie Britt raised similar concerns, citing parents’ stories about chatbots isolating children and discussing suicide.
Britt’s proposed Guard Act would restrict AI companions for minors, require clear disclosures, and impose criminal liability for sexual, violent, or self-harm–related content. Despite ideological differences, both senators called for stronger oversight of AI, with Sanders urging Congress to slow development and consider a moratorium on new datacentres.
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