Sen. Bernie Sanders is intensifying his campaign for federal oversight of artificial intelligence, warning that Congress must act quickly to address what he describes as one of the most consequential technological revolutions in modern history. Sanders argues that AI’s rapid advancement poses significant risks to workers, privacy, democracy, and economic equality if left unchecked.
The Vermont independent has emerged as one of Capitol Hill’s most vocal critics of the unchecked growth of artificial intelligence. In recent weeks, Sanders has repeatedly urged lawmakers to establish safeguards before AI systems become deeply embedded across the economy and workforce. He has warned that millions of jobs could be disrupted or eliminated as companies increasingly adopt automation and AI-driven technologies.
“We must act,” Sanders has argued in public remarks and opinion pieces, emphasizing that technological progress should benefit workers and communities rather than concentrate wealth among a handful of technology executives and investors.
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Sanders’ concerns extend beyond employment. He has raised alarms about AI’s potential impact on privacy rights, misinformation, democratic institutions, and even humanity’s long-term future. The senator has cited warnings from AI researchers and developers who have expressed concerns about increasingly powerful systems operating with limited oversight.
One of Sanders’ most ambitious proposals is the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, legislation that would create public ownership stakes in major AI companies. Under the proposal, firms generating significant AI revenue would contribute stock to a national fund designed to provide Americans with a direct financial stake in the industry’s growth. Sanders argues that the economic benefits of AI should be shared broadly rather than flowing exclusively to large corporations and wealthy shareholders.
The senator has also pushed for stricter oversight of AI infrastructure. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation calling for a moratorium on the construction of new AI data centers until federal safeguards are established to address environmental, economic, and labor concerns. Sanders has warned that large-scale data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity, land, and water while enabling technologies that could reshape the workforce.
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His proposals arrive as lawmakers from both parties debate how to regulate AI without stifling innovation. Several bipartisan efforts are underway to establish a national framework for AI governance, though consensus remains elusive. While Sanders acknowledges that artificial intelligence offers enormous potential benefits, he insists that policymakers cannot afford to wait until problems emerge.
“The question is not whether AI will change the world,” Sanders has argued. “The question is who will benefit from it and who will be hurt by it.”
As AI investment accelerates and companies race to develop increasingly powerful systems, Sanders is calling on Congress to move faster, warning that technological capabilities are advancing far more rapidly than government oversight.