Rep. Jim Clyburn told Vox's America, Actually that he only learned what ChatGPT was "about a week ago" and said he has not used AI tools. He also has not visited a data center. Clyburn defended his approach to emerging technology by saying he relies on knowledgeable staff rather than trying to master every subject himself. The exchange came amid public concern over data centers, with a Gallup poll finding about seven in ten Americans would oppose one being built nearby.
Jim Clyburn: “I Didn’t Know What ChatGPT Was Until About a Week Ago”
Jim Clyburn
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) acknowledged in a clip posted Friday from an upcoming episode of Vox’s podcast America, Actually that he only learned what ChatGPT was "about a week ago" and said he has not personally used AI tools.
In the excerpt, Vox reporter Astead Herndon noted that artificial intelligence is reshaping “so much,” including the future of work and the broader economy, and asked whether Clyburn had tried AI himself. Clyburn replied, "No. Somebody was telling me I ought to, but I never have." When Herndon asked, "No ChatGPT, no Claude for you?" Clyburn answered, "Believe it or not, I didn't know what that was until about a week ago. ChatGPT, or whatever it is."
"I wish I could know everything. I don't know everything, and I don't spend my time trying to learn everything. What I spend my time doing is trying to surround myself with people who do know stuff," Clyburn said, describing how he relies on staff to bring technical knowledge into his legislative work.
Herndon also asked whether Clyburn had ever visited a data center. Clyburn said he had not. The conversation came as public debate intensifies over large data centers: a recent Gallup poll found roughly seven in ten Americans would oppose a data center being built near them, even as leaders such as former President Donald Trump have praised such facilities' construction.
Asked how he can effectively legislate on rapid technological change while lacking hands-on experience, Clyburn emphasized his role as a legislator and relationship-builder who leans on experts: he hires staff with subject-matter knowledge and uses their expertise to inform policy decisions.
This brief exchange highlights a broader question facing lawmakers: how to keep pace with fast-evolving technology when expertise is often specialized and concentrated outside of government.
Excerpt courtesy of Vox's America, Actually. First posted on Mediaite.
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