Sen. Bernie Sanders told CNN that the "science‑fiction" fear of AI running the world is now real and called AI the most consequential technology of our era. He urged slowing AI development, accused a small group of wealthy tech leaders of driving the boom, and warned that automation could displace large numbers of workers. Sanders also asked Congress to study AI's mental‑health effects on young people and to begin serious debate about how Americans will earn income if jobs disappear.
Bernie Sanders: 'Science‑Fiction' Fear That AI Could Run the World Is Real — Urges U.S. To Slow Development
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑Vt.) told CNN that a long‑standing science‑fiction worry — that artificial intelligence could one day "run the world" — is no longer merely hypothetical. He described AI as "the most consequential technology of our lifetime" and urged the United States to slow its development while policymakers consider its societal impacts.
Sanders warned that the current AI boom is largely shaped by a small group of extremely wealthy tech leaders. He specifically named Elon Musk (Tesla), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and questioned whether their motives align with the broader public interest.
“What is their motive? 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 more powerful,” Sanders told CNN.
He pointed to public comments by technology executives suggesting that AI could eliminate many jobs and said lawmakers must confront the economic consequences if automation significantly reduces the need for human labor.
“If there are no jobs and humans won't be needed for most things, how do people get an income to feed their families, to get healthcare, or to pay the rent?” Sanders asked. He added that Congress has yet to hold a serious, sustained debate about how to ensure workers can earn a living in an economy reshaped by AI.
Sanders also raised concerns about the growing use of AI systems for emotional support, especially among young people. He urged federal lawmakers to study potential mental‑health consequences, warning that increased reliance on AI could drive isolation, loneliness and other harms.
“And if we conclude that these technologies are creating more isolation, more loneliness, more mental illness, you know what? We have got to figure out a way to stop it,” he said.
Sanders criticized Congress for failing to take meaningful action as AI expands across the economy and daily life. “This technology is being pushed by a handful of the wealthiest and most powerful people on Earth. Can they be stopped? I don't know,” he said.
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