US Left and Right Unite on 'AI Slowdown,' But 'China Is the Problem'

Two prominent figures representing the left and right wings of US politics have spoken out in unison for an "artificial intelligence (AI) slowdown."

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon appeared side by side at the Pro-Human Assembly hosted in Washington, D.C., on the 15th (local time) by the US non-profit Future of Life Institute.

Senator Sanders is a veteran politician often called a "giant of the left," while Bannon represents the right-wing MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction.

The two figures with opposing political orientations gathered in one place out of a shared concern that losing control over AI could bring about catastrophe.

The Future of Life Institute, which hosted the event, spearheaded the "Pro-Human AI Declaration," demanding the protection of human agency, the avoidance of concentrated power, and enhanced corporate responsibility.

Senator Sanders pointed out that beyond side effects such as job losses, mental health issues, education, privacy protection, and deepfakes, the greatest threat is that "this technology could potentially lead to catastrophic outcomes and slip out of human control."

He also argued that while the fruits of AI development are concentrated among a handful of big tech billionaires, the public is being left behind in the AI revolution transforming their lives, asserting that "decisions about AI must be made by the people, not oligarchical tycoons."

"AI is an existential threat to humanity," he urged, adding, "When racing toward a cliff, we must not only take our foot off the accelerator, we must hit the brakes."

Bannon agreed with Senator Sanders, stating, "We must transcend partisanship in the face of this (AI) threat."

He went on to note that recent concerns that AI could cause the destruction of humanity have "concretely revealed what people's fears are."

Bannon criticized the false dichotomy that "if you are not an accelerationist, you are anti-American; if you are not an accelerationist, you are a supporter of the Chinese Communist Party; if you are not an accelerationist, you are practically a Luddite (referring to the 19th-century machine-breaking movement)."

Such framing is also a slogan used by his "political ally" and "AI accelerationist," President Donald Trump, while criticizing the AI slowdown theory.

Bannon argued that AI slowdown measures "should not be done through legislation (which takes time and is complex)."

"It should be done through executive action," he asserted, adding, "We must tell AI companies, 'Regulatory bodies are going to apply to you. We don't want to shut down your business, but we are not going to let you run wild either.'"

However, opinions diverged over the solution to the reality that China's AI technology level is closely trailing just behind the United States, even if the US pivots toward an AI slowdown.

Senator Sanders pointed to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence currently under development as risk factors on par with nuclear weapons, suggesting that, much like past US-Soviet nuclear arms control agreements, "President Trump should negotiate with President Xi Jinping at the summit meeting next week to conclude a comprehensive treaty establishing a halt to advanced AI development and a ban on superintelligence."

Conversely, Bannon emphasized that "cutting off China" from the AI ecosystem must take precedence.

"Do not give them semiconductors. Do not let them free-ride on American technology," he argued, insisting that all Chinese students and researchers should be sent back to the mainland, and China's bond and equity investments in the US AI industry should be blocked.

Regarding the revelation of AI threats, which has led CEOs of major US AI big tech companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX AI to acknowledge those threats and endorse regulation, Sanders and Bannon concurred that it is "hypocrisy."

Senator Sanders pointed out that while they outwardly cry for AI regulation, behind the scenes they "pour hundreds of millions of dollars into super PACs trying to defeat lawmakers and candidates fighting for strict safety guards on AI."

Bannon stated that AI big tech CEOs are engaging in legislative lobbying in Washington, self-confessions to shirk responsibility, and "financial shifting" demanding the injection of US public pension capital, warning people not to fall for their "outright lies."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.