Indian American billionaire Vinod Khosla does not appear to be a fan of Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders. Khosla launched a blistering attack on U.S. lawmakers Sanders and Khanna in a post on X, criticizing their warnings about artificial intelligence.
The post read: “Bernie Sanders, Ro Khanna warn of AI’s potential negative consequences. Morons like Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders will stop all the good AI can do to protect their religion. Good intentions but bad outcomes is ok for these socialists/ commie.”
Who is Vinod Khosla?
Vinod Khosla is a prominent Indian-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and technology investor. Born in 1955 in India, he initially trained as an electrical engineer at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and later earned a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He began his career at Sun Microsystems, where he was part of the founding team that helped establish the company’s early success.
READ: Vinod Khosla: ‘We are getting closer’ to AI-powered healthcare (
Khosla gained widespread recognition as a co-founder of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capital firms, where he focused on technology investments. In 2004, he founded Khosla Ventures, which invests in clean technology, biotechnology, and disruptive startups. Known for his bold investment strategies and advocacy for technological innovation, Khosla has influenced sectors ranging from renewable energy to healthcare, often taking high-risk bets that challenge conventional venture capital approaches. His work has made him a key figure in shaping Silicon Valley’s investment landscape.
The exchange followed a Stanford town hall on Feb. 20, 2026, where Sanders argued that artificial intelligence is advancing faster than existing economic and political systems can absorb, but the senator did not stop there, he went on to cast doubt on Silicon Valley’s claims that AI will naturally deliver broad public benefits, saying similar assurances had been made during previous waves of technological change while wealth and power became more concentrated.
READ: Vinod Khosla proposes 10% US government ownership in public firms (
The recent clash between Khosla and U.S. lawmakers highlights a broader tension at the intersection of technology, policy, and societal oversight. It reflects the ongoing debate about how rapidly emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—should be guided, regulated, and integrated into public life. Proponents like Khosla emphasize the transformative potential of AI to solve complex global challenges, from healthcare innovations to energy efficiency, arguing that overregulation risks stifling progress and limiting benefits.
Conversely, critics such as Sanders and Khanna stress the need for caution, emphasizing that technological advancements often outpace the social, economic, and ethical frameworks necessary to manage them responsibly. Their concerns are rooted in historical patterns where technological optimism sometimes led to concentrated wealth and power, alongside unanticipated societal consequences.