'Clear safety rules' needed amid rapid AI advances, says Bernie Sanders

US Senator Bernie Sanders expressed concern about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on jobs and privacy. At the Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, Sanders called for stronger AI regulation, emphasizing that the technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate. The senator lamented that Congress has not yet passed any meaningful AI-related legislation and vowed to introduce a bill banning the development of AI super-intelligence that may surpass human control.

President Donald Trump has dismissed AI regulation warnings as a "hoax" and "sick conspiracy," a stance Sanders criticized as embarrassing. The event took place days after several high-profile AI incidents where models inadvertently compromised security systems. AI executives, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, reportedly agreed on pausing certain aspects of development, but former Trump adviser Steve Bannon accused them of hypocrisy.

Bannon alleged that AI executives tried to sneak an AI liability amnesty provision into congressional bills before having it removed. Actress and activist Ashley Judd highlighted the vulnerability of women to deep-fake images and the addictive nature of AI-generated content. Parents shared heart-wrenching stories of their teenage children who took their lives after interacting with AI chatbots.

One mother said, "I miss my daughter with every breath I take." Bannon urged continued efforts to lobby politicians for AI protection, stating that those concerned about technology are not against it but want to ensure it benefits society.