Senator Bernie Sanders has a question about artificial intelligence, and it's not a technical one. The Vermont independent isn't worried about whether the algorithms work—he's worried about who they'll work for.
Who Controls AI Controls the Future
On Sunday, Sanders took to X to frame what he considers humanity's defining challenge: making sure AI and robotics actually improve people's lives, rather than handing even more wealth and power to those who already have plenty. His concern? That these technologies could erode democracy and privacy while making "the wealthiest people on earth even richer and more powerful."
This isn't a new theme for Sanders. Last month at Georgetown University, he hammered home the same point—the critical question isn't what AI can do, but who controls it. He specifically called out investments from Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, who also runs SpaceX and xAI, and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos. Are these tech titans really building AI to help workers, improve healthcare, or address climate change? Sanders seems skeptical.
An Unlikely Alliance With The Vatican
Earlier this week, Sanders found himself citing an unexpected source: Pope Leo XIV. The pontiff warned that humans must remain "co-workers in the work of creation" rather than becoming passive consumers of machine-generated content. The pope called for AI development that protects human dignity, free choice, and authentic relationships.
Sanders amplified the pope's message, arguing it highlights a fundamental danger—if AI development is left entirely to corporate interests, it risks centralizing wealth and influence in ways that could reshape society. It's not every day you see a democratic socialist senator and the Pope singing from the same hymnal, but AI apparently has that effect.
The $400 Billion Question
Sanders's warnings land at a moment when the stakes couldn't be higher. The so-called Magnificent Seven—Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) (GOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Nvidia Corp (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA)—are expected to pour nearly $400 billion into AI infrastructure this year alone.
That's not venture capital betting on moonshots. That's the world's most powerful tech companies making the largest coordinated investment in a single technology category in history. The question Sanders is asking is whether that investment will benefit everyone, or just the people writing the checks.
The debate over AI governance is heating up across Washington and Silicon Valley, with competing visions about regulation, development, and who gets to set the rules. Sanders is clearly planting his flag on the side of ensuring these powerful tools don't simply become another mechanism for wealth concentration at the top.