Sen. Bernie Sanders warned that fears of artificial intelligence 'running the world' are gaining credibility and that the U.S. lacks adequate public debate on how to manage AI. After citing a Georgetown symposium with AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, Sanders called AI 'the most consequential technology in the history of humanity' and urged consideration of a moratorium on new AI data centers. He also pushed for rigorous study of AI's effects on jobs, children and mental health.
Sanders Warns AI 'Running the World' Is No Longer Pure Science Fiction, Urges Data-Center Moratorium
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to reporters outside the Senate Chamber of the US Capitol Building on November 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑Vt.) warned that the idea—once dismissed as science fiction—that artificial intelligence could one day 'run the world' deserves serious attention, and he called for a national debate on how to manage AI's rapid rise.
Georgetown Symposium and a Stark Warning
Sanders recounted participating in a Georgetown symposium with Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneering AI researcher and Turing Award winner, who he said believes AI may soon surpass human intelligence. 'So the science‑fiction fear of AI running the world is not quite so outrageous a concept as people may have thought it was,' Sanders told CNN's Jake Tapper.
AI symbol with person at keyboard.
Who Is Driving the AI Push?
The senator described AI as 'the most consequential technology in the history of humanity' and criticized the concentration of capital behind its development. He named some of the wealthiest tech figures and argued that their primary motive is profit and power rather than protecting workers or the public interest.
'Who is pushing this revolution in technology? It is the richest people in the world. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel — multi‑multi billionaires are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into implementing and developing this technology,' Sanders said. 'Do you think they’re staying up nights worrying about working people and how this technology will impact those people? They are not. They are doing it to get richer and even more powerful.'
Call For A Moratorium On AI Data Centers
Highlighting the enormous industrial build‑out that supports AI, Sanders suggested the United States should consider pausing construction of new AI data centers to allow time for public deliberation and regulatory planning. Major firms including Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Amazon are investing billions in the data‑center infrastructure that powers large AI models; media coverage has also noted reports that Google plans a roughly $40 billion investment in Texas data centers as part of its AI expansion.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, arrives for a confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on July 16, 2025.
Social Impact: Jobs, Children, Mental Health
Sanders raised concerns about automation, asking rhetorically what corporate leaders would do if AI displaces large numbers of workers. He also urged rigorous study of AI's effects on children and mental health, warning that increased screen time and AI‑mediated interactions could harm attention spans and social development.
'Kids now, among other things, can't read books anymore. It's too hard. Their attention span is too weak,' he said. 'I worry very much about kids spending their entire days getting emotional support [from devices]. So we have got to take a hard look at that.'
Sanders said that if research shows AI contributes to social isolation or mental‑health problems, lawmakers should consider policies to limit or mitigate those harms.
What Comes Next?
Sanders' remarks add to a growing chorus of policymakers and experts calling for stronger oversight of AI development, targeted research into societal impacts, and public discussion about how to balance innovation with worker protections and public welfare.
