Warnings Over AI Grow in U.S. Political Circles
Republicans Also Voice Concerns Over Deepfakes and Threats to Democracy
Power Consumption and Environmental Issues of Data Centers Emerge as Key Debates
Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator representing the progressive wing of American politics, has expressed strong concerns about the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and called for a temporary halt to the construction of new AI data centers. On December 28 (local time), in an interview with CNN, Senator Sanders stated, "AI is one of the most significant technologies in human history, and it will change the United States and the world in ways that have not yet been fully discussed," adding, "To be honest, there are many things that frighten me."
He pointed to the possibility of large-scale job losses due to AI, asking, "In a situation where most work no longer requires people, how will individuals support their families, access medical care, and pay their rent?" He went on to criticize, "Congress has never once had a serious discussion about this reality."
Sanders: "AI Chatbots Could Harm Mental Health"
Senator Sanders has consistently argued that AI chatbots could foster emotional dependence among users and harm mental health, and has called for restrictions on their use by minors. He previously introduced the "Guardianship and Oversight Act on Relationships with AI," which would hold AI companies criminally liable if they generate or solicit sexually explicit content for minors, or promote self-harm and violence.
Experts emphasized that as the potential and risks of AI technology are growing simultaneously, regulations and social consensus aligned with the pace of technological advancement are necessary. Photo by Getty Images
Senator Sanders also criticized global billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, claiming they are pushing forward with AI development to gain more power and capital while ignoring its downsides. He asserted, "The richest people in the world are pushing this technology," and emphasized, "They are not considering at all how AI will affect workers."
Furthermore, Senator Sanders stated, "I don't think they are losing sleep worrying about the future of workers," and argued, "They are advancing AI to gain even more wealth and power." He stressed, "We need to slow down this process," and called on Congress to seriously consider a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new AI data centers. He also added that federal-level research on the impact of AI on the mental health of the public is necessary.
Concerns Over Unchecked Spread of AI Technology Within the Republican Party
Concerns about the unchecked spread of AI technology have also been raised within the Republican Party. Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida and former Republican presidential primary candidate, criticized AI-generated content as "reckless garbage" and warned that deepfakes and misinformation could pose a "potential existential crisis" to democratic government. In addition, the rapid increase in AI data centers has sparked new debates over power consumption and environmental issues.
Large AI data centers can consume as much electricity as a small city, raising concerns about the burden on power grids and increased carbon emissions. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to local media reports, large AI data centers can consume as much electricity as a small city, raising concerns about the burden on power grids and increased carbon emissions. Copyright infringement has also emerged as a major issue. In both the United States and Europe, media companies, writers, and artists have filed a series of lawsuits against big tech companies, claiming their content was used without permission during the training of AI models.
Debates over transparency and compensation systems for AI training data are expected to become key legislative issues in the future. Experts emphasized that as the potential and risks of AI technology are growing simultaneously, regulations and social consensus aligned with the pace of technological advancement are necessary. There is also a growing bipartisan call within the U.S. political sphere to reexamine the economic, social, and ethical impacts of AI.
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