Steve Bannon and Bernie Sanders back tougher AI safety rules

In short: Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders are joining a Washington event to push for stronger rules on artificial intelligence.

What happened

Rightwing activist Steve Bannon and leftwing Senator Bernie Sanders are appearing together at a “Pro-Human Assembly” in Washington on Tuesday. The event is meant to urge US lawmakers to add more guardrails for AI, meaning clearer limits and checks on how it is built and used.

The event is being organized by the Future of Life Institute, a non-profit group focused on technology risks. The group said participants will make several announcements, but it did not share details in advance.

Other speakers are expected from both parties, including Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican Representative Chip Roy, and Democratic Representative Greg Casar. Actors Ashley Judd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are also expected to attend, along with union leaders and clergy.

Sanders has argued that tech companies are moving too fast with AI. He has called for a permanent ban on “superintelligent” AI, which usually means a future system that could outthink humans in many areas (like a student who becomes smarter than every teacher, but at massive scale). He has also called for a new federal regulator, basically a dedicated watchdog agency for AI.

This comes as polls show broad public concern. An NBC poll found about two-thirds of Americans believe AI presents a high or very high risk to society. The story also notes that President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a pro-AI stance and has pushed back on stricter state rules and supported building more AI data centers.

Why it matters

AI is already affecting jobs, scams, and how information spreads. When people from opposite political sides agree on rules, it can increase the chance that Congress seriously debates new safety steps that could affect what AI products are allowed and how fast they roll out.

Source: Financial Times