Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon join Washington rally to curb unchecked AI

Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon — political opponents from opposite ends of the spectrum — will appear together at a Washington gathering calling for stronger human oversight of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

The event, billed as "For Humanity" and organized by the Future of Life Institute, brings together speakers from across politics, entertainment and faith communities to press Congress to act sooner to rein in AI’s social and economic impacts. The nonprofit published 33 principles in March to guide the initiative, including demands that humans retain control over AI and that companies developing the technology be held accountable.

Unlikely alliance highlights shifting fault lines

The rare pairing of a leading progressive senator and a prominent MAGA strategist underscores how AI is reshaping political alliances. Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Bannon, the former key Trump adviser, will both speak at the daylong gathering in Washington.

The push comes as executives at Anthropic and OpenAI have publicly urged a slowdown in development to keep the technology under human control, and lawmakers have pressed House Speaker Mike Johnson to adopt protective measures. Johnson said he supports some limits but believes companies — not Congress — should oversee safety. "We can't impose a moratorium, because China will outpace us, and that is the challenge," he told CNN this past weekend.

Lawmakers are nonetheless expected to vote as soon as Tuesday on legislation that addresses one piece of the problem: the rapid spread of data centers. The proposed consumer electricity protection bill aims to shield Americans from sharp price increases linked to building those facilities.

Even as former President Donald Trump has publicly backed AI and data-center growth, candidates and members of both parties have voiced voter concerns about the technology's societal risks. After industry leaders called for a slowdown, Trump responded that those warnings were exaggerated. "We're ahead of China in AI, we are the most technologically advanced country in the world and, frankly, I want it to stay that way, because whoever wins in AI — wins," he told reporters.

The Washington event will also include Hollywood actors Ashley Judd and Joseph Gordon‑Levitt, faith leaders, child safety advocates and parents of children who took their own lives after interacting with AI chatbots, all of whom are urging tighter controls.

Photo: press material from the event