WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders and conservative strategist Steve Bannon found common ground on Tuesday in calling for stronger guardrails on artificial intelligence, speaking at the Pro-Human Assembly organized by the Future of Life Institute.
Both warned that rapid advances in AI, including the pursuit of superintelligence, pose risks to jobs, safety, and potentially humanity itself if left solely in the hands of a small group of technology executives. Sanders said he plans additional legislation to pause advanced AI development and permanently ban artificial superintelligence until clear safety rules are established.
Bannon criticized what he described as tech oligarchs seeking to socialize risks while privatizing benefits, and called for executive and congressional action to keep humans in control of the technology’s trajectory.
The event drew a bipartisan mix of lawmakers, faith leaders, and advocates. Speakers emphasized the need for a human-centric approach amid growing public and industry concern over AI capabilities and recent high-profile warnings from researchers.
While united on the need for oversight, Sanders and Bannon differed on aspects of U.S.-China competition in the field. Sanders urged a negotiated pause with China; others framed the issue more in terms of national competitiveness.
Sanders and Bannon both called for AI restrictions at the Pro-Human Assembly, warning of risks from unchecked development while differing on the China dimension.
Reporting based on public remarks and coverage of the Pro-Human Assembly on September 15, 2026.
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