Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity during a recent series of events and a Capitol Hill summit [1].
The senator's efforts to highlight the existential risks of AI come as global powers race to develop the technology, raising questions about the balance between innovation and safety.
Sanders hosted the AI summit in Washington, D.C., to discuss the potential threats posed by the technology and to shape policies that prevent AI from harming humanity [2, 4]. The event included the participation of Chinese scientists, a move that sparked significant backlash from political opponents and commentators [3, 4].
Critics argued that including Chinese representatives in a forum on the future of AI is a strategic error. Kevin O'Leary said the U.S. cannot let Beijing shape the future of AI and said that Sanders is way offside on this issue [4]. Similarly, Scott Bessent and Francis Suarez said the senator's approach to the summit was problematic [2, 3].
Beyond the diplomatic controversy, the senator has linked AI risks to the labor movement. During a rally in New York City, Sanders said the implications of the AI era for unions and workers are significant [5].
The conversation regarding the survival of the species is supported by some experts in the field. Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent AI researcher, has estimated the probability that AI could wipe out humanity at 10-20% [1].
Sanders continues to advocate for a framework that prioritizes human safety over corporate speed, though he faces ongoing pressure regarding his willingness to collaborate with international adversaries to achieve those safety goals [2, 4].
“AI could wipe out humanity”
The tension surrounding Senator Sanders' summit reflects a broader conflict in US policy: whether to treat AI safety as a global humanitarian issue requiring international cooperation or as a national security competition where sharing knowledge with rivals like China is seen as a risk.
