Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged the U.S. and China to cooperate on artificial intelligence regulation to prevent existential risks to humanity [1].
This call for diplomacy comes as the global race for AI dominance intensifies. Sanders said that the potential for runaway AI to cause catastrophe is a shared threat that transcends the political friction between the two superpowers [2].
Speaking at a panel on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 29, 2026, Sanders said the need for international coordination is essential [2, 3]. He said that the risk of extinction posed by unchecked AI demands a level of cooperation that ignores traditional competition [1].
Sanders called for talks between U.S. and Chinese scientists to establish safety frameworks [3]. He said that coordinated regulation is the only viable path to protect public safety, and the stability of democracy [2].
While some critics suggest that slowing U.S. technology development could benefit foreign adversaries, Sanders said that the danger of an unregulated AI arms race is far greater than the risk of losing a competitive edge [1, 4]. He said that this issue is not about competition, but about survival [1].
The senator's push for a global treaty or regulatory body reflects a growing concern among some policymakers that AI development is outpacing the ability of individual nations to govern it [2, 3].
“This isn't about competition.”
Sanders is attempting to shift the AI narrative from a geopolitical arms race to a global safety crisis. By advocating for U.S.-China cooperation, he is challenging the prevailing 'decoupling' strategy in tech, suggesting that the technical risks of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) are so severe that they necessitate a diplomatic bridge even between ideological rivals.
