Steve Bannon and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have both called for increased regulation of artificial intelligence to protect the working class [1, 2].
This rare alignment between two ideological opposites suggests a growing bipartisan consensus that AI poses a systemic risk to labor markets. As corporate adoption of the technology accelerates, the focus is shifting from technical safety to the economic survival of human workers.
Bannon has endorsed a specific tax on AI companies to redistribute the wealth generated by the technology [1]. He said that because AI companies were built on humanity's data, the public may deserve a cut [1]. Bannon said the current trajectory of the technology is a disaster for the working class [2].
Sanders has similarly urged for the implementation of safeguards and rigorous public oversight [1, 2]. He focused his criticism on the motives of the industry leaders driving the shift toward automation. Sanders said that AI oligarchs do not want to just replace specific jobs, but rather they want to replace workers [2].
Both men view the rise of AI as a tool for corporate oligarchs to exploit workers [1, 2]. While their broader political philosophies remain polarized, they agree that public policy, whether through taxation or regulatory safeguards, is necessary to ensure the benefits of AI are shared more equitably [1, 2].
The discourse in Washington, D.C. reflects a broader anxiety regarding the speed of AI integration. By framing the issue as a struggle between the working class and a small group of tech elites, both Bannon and Sanders are appealing to populist sentiments across the political spectrum [1, 2].
“"AI is a disaster for the working class."”
The convergence of populist rhetoric from the far left and far right indicates that AI regulation is moving beyond a technical debate into a class-based economic conflict. If policymakers from opposite ends of the spectrum agree on taxation and labor protections, it increases the likelihood of legislative action targeting the profitability of AI firms to subsidize displaced workers.
