US Senator Bernie Sanders has said he will push for a moratorium on the construction of new data centres used to power artificial intelligence, arguing that technological development is outpacing democratic accountability.
The Vermont independent said the rapid build-out of AI infrastructure represents an “unregulated sprint” that risks concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a small elite.
Sanders argued that a temporary halt would give lawmakers and the public time to debate how AI should be governed and who ultimately benefits from its deployment.
He said the goal of a pause would be to ensure that technological progress works for society as a whole rather than disproportionately rewarding the richest individuals.
In comments shared on social media platform X, Sanders acknowledged that AI and robotics are transformative technologies that could reshape the US economy and labour market.
However, he warned that the direction of this transformation is currently being shaped by billionaires with limited public scrutiny or accountability.
Sanders criticised figures such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting their enthusiasm for AI is driven more by profit and power than by public interest.
He argued that decisions about AI development should not be left to a small group of corporate leaders and technology executives.
The senator also raised concerns about the potential impact of AI and automation on working-class Americans and job security.
He cited past remarks from technology leaders, including Musk, Bill Gates and the chief executive of Anthropic, indicating that millions of workers could become economically redundant.
Sanders said many policymakers are either ignoring these warnings or failing to grasp the scale of disruption AI could bring to employment.
He warned that large-scale job displacement without adequate social protections could deepen inequality and social instability.
Beyond economic issues, Sanders highlighted what he described as the underreported social consequences of widespread AI adoption.
He expressed concern about young Americans increasingly interacting with AI systems rather than building human relationships.
Millions of kids in this country are becoming more and more isolated from real human relationships, are getting their emotional support from AI, Bernie Sanders said, warning of a future where people spend more time with devices than with each other.
Sanders said this trend could have long-term consequences for mental health, social cohesion and democratic engagement.
He argued that society must decide collectively how AI is integrated into daily life rather than accepting outcomes driven by market forces alone.
The senator said a moratorium would create space for public debate, regulation and ethical standards around AI development.
Sanders concluded that all Americans should have a voice in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, not just a handful of wealthy individuals.