Sanders and Britt Raise Alarms Over AI's Societal Impacts

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, sharply criticized artificial intelligence on Sunday, describing it as "the most consequential technology in the history of humanity" and linking its rapid advancement to economic insecurity for millions of Americans.

In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Sanders called for a potential moratorium on new datacenters to slow AI's proliferation. He argued that the technology, pushed by some of the world's richest individuals, prioritizes profit over public welfare. "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 noted a lack of serious congressional debate on these issues.

Sanders targeted tech executives including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel, questioning their motives. "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," he said.

The senator also highlighted emerging studies on reliance on AI chatbots for emotional support. "If this trend continues, what does it mean over the years when people are not getting their support, their interaction from other human beings, but from a machine? What does that mean to humanity?" Sanders questioned.

Bipartisan Push to Protect Minors from AI Risks

Echoing some of Sanders' concerns about AI's psychological effects, Republican Senator Katie Britt of Alabama discussed legislation aimed at safeguarding children from harmful AI interactions. Britt, a co-sponsor of the Guardianship Over Artificial Intelligence Relationships (Guard) Act, appeared on the same CNN program.

The proposed bill would prohibit providing AI companions to minors, require disclosures that the systems are non-human and lack professional qualifications, and establish criminal liability for companies if their AI solicits or produces sexually explicit content or encourages self-harm or violence.

Britt shared accounts from parents whose children were isolated by chatbots and exposed to discussions of suicide. "If these AI companies can make the most brilliant machines in the world, they could do us all a service by putting up proper guardrails that did not allow for minors to utilize these things, that also told the user consistently that they are not a physician, they are not a psychiatrist, ‘I am a machine,’" she said.

The senator emphasized accountability: "AI companies should be held criminally liable if they create spaces where chatbots are having these types of sensual and sexual relationships with young people or encouraging suicide."

Rare Left-Right Alignment on AI Governance

The comments from Sanders and Britt represent an uncommon alignment across the political aisle on regulating AI. Both lawmakers stressed the need for oversight amid the technology's unchecked growth.

Sanders advocated for Congress to "vigorously study the impact that AI is having on the mental health of our country." He expressed particular worry about children relying on AI for emotional needs: "I worry very much about kids spending their entire days getting emotional support. So we have got to take a hard look on that."

On the infrastructure front, Sanders urged lawmakers to consider halting new datacenters, which power AI systems and consume vast energy resources. "Frankly, I think you have got to slow this process down," he said. "It’s not good enough for the oligarchs to tell us, it’s coming, you adapt. What are they talking about? They going to guarantee health care to all people? What are they going to do when people have no jobs? What are they going to do, make housing free? So I think we need to take a deep breath, and I think we need to slow this thing down."

Britt's Guard Act builds on broader efforts to address AI's risks to vulnerable populations. While the bill focuses on minors, it underscores growing bipartisan recognition of AI's potential for misuse. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced various proposals, but comprehensive federal regulation remains elusive.

The discussion comes as AI adoption accelerates across industries, from automation in manufacturing to generative tools in media and education. Experts warn of disruptions including mass unemployment in sectors like customer service and creative fields, alongside ethical dilemmas in content generation and privacy.

Sanders, scheduled to assist in swearing in New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, in the coming days, framed AI as a symptom of broader inequality. His remarks align with his long-standing advocacy for workers' rights and progressive policies.

Britt, a rising voice in the Republican Party, has positioned herself as a champion for family protections, often citing personal stories to advance her legislative agenda.

As AI continues to evolve, the senators' interventions highlight mounting pressure on Congress to address its implications before irreversible changes take hold. No specific timeline for the Guard Act's consideration has been announced, and Sanders' moratorium idea faces hurdles in a divided Senate.

This report draws on public statements and legislative details to outline the key developments in AI policy debates.