Bernie Sanders: It’s Only A Question Of Time Before AI Becomes Smarter Than Humans And Independent Of Human Control
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) talks to CNN’s Jake Tapper about the bipartisan concern over artificial intelligence’s power.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now, Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator, thanks so much for joining us. What is it about this issue that brings together folks from across the spectrum? I can’t imagine that you and Steve Bannon agree on much. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): That’s true. Look, I think, as you just indicated, AI is moving at an exponential rate. It is in the process of transforming the lives of every man, woman, and child. It will have a profound impact on the economy with the possible loss of millions of jobs. It’s going to eviscerate privacy rights. Parents are very worried about the impact of AI on the mental health of their kids, on the reading ability of their kids. Reading levels are in decline. Writing levels are in decline. And then in the last few weeks, I think what people are seeing is that the leaders of the AI industry themselves and the scientists who work on the technology are saying, you know what? We are losing control over a dangerous technology. That it’s only a question of time when AI becomes smarter than human beings and likely then becomes independent of human control. And what we, the industry, are saying is that could be extremely dangerous, an independent AI smarter than humanity. So I think all over this country, whether people are conservatives, progressives, moderates are saying, where the hell is the United States government? Where are our elected officials? We are worried. What are you doing? And the answer, Jake, is nowhere, nowhere near enough.
Watch Sanders and Steve Bannon talk about the threat of AI at a “Pro Human” conference today:
Bernie Sanders on AI:
Leading scientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity.
Congress and governments around the world must act now before it is too late. And that is why next week I will be introducing legislation to permanently ban the development of… pic.twitter.com/mr0SH4gtsw
– Clash Report (@clashreport) September 15, 2026
Former Trump White House Adviser Steve Bannon on he and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) rising above partisanship due to the threat of AI: “To handle it correctly, number one: we can never trust what an oligarch says…they're disingenuous and they lie.” pic.twitter.com/UUCYh1qbUq
– CSPAN (@cspan) September 15, 2026
