Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, and Steve Bannon, former White House advisor to Donald Trump, will attend the "Humanity Summit" in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. This one-day event is organized to persuade Congress to speed up restrictive measures on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI).
Rare Political Combination
The rare combination of a leading figure and a Trump-supporting voice reflects profound changes in political alliances due to the rise of artificial intelligence. The summit is organized by the Institute for the Future of Life, a nonprofit group that published 33 principles in March to guide its pro-human movement. These principles emphasize the need to maintain human control over AI and the accountability of companies operating in this field.
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Growing Concerns About AI
This event takes place amid growing concerns about the expansion of data centers and the increasing impact of AI, prompting executives from major companies like Anthropic and OpenAI to call for slowing down AI development. Meanwhile, lawmakers are pressuring Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, to pass protective measures for AI. Johnson has stated that he supports some restrictions on AI but believes that the responsibility for safety oversight should fall on companies, not Congress.
In an interview, Johnson stated: "We cannot pause on this issue because China will overtake us. If Congress does not act quickly, we will lose in the competition with China, and that is a threat to every American."
New Legislative Proposal
The House of Representatives is expected to soon vote on a bill addressing the issue of expanding data centers. This bill, known as the "Supplier Protection Act," aims to protect Americans from rising energy costs associated with the construction of data centers.
While Donald Trump has consistently supported AI and data centers, lawmakers and candidates from both sides of the political spectrum have addressed voters' concerns about the risks of AI to society. However, after AI companies called for slowing down the development process, Trump quickly responded that these warnings are exaggerated.
This event has also gained more attention with the presence of Hollywood stars like Ashley Judd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who are advocating for stronger controls on AI, as well as religious leaders from various denominations and child safety advocates, including parents who have lost children due to interactions with AI chatbots.
The organizers concluded their program and speaker list with the statement: "By focusing on our shared humanity, we maintain a space based on trust and collaboration to solve problems towards a pro-human future with AI."
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Source: npr.org
