Bernie Sanders pushes AI regulation and 32-hour workweek

Senator Bernie Sanders is intensifying his legislative efforts regarding artificial intelligence, focusing on economic protections and regulatory oversight. Sanders has convened Senate colleagues for briefings to address concerns over rogue AI systems and potential mass job displacement. A report from his committee estimated that AI and automation could eliminate nearly 100 million US jobs over the next decade, impacting sectors such as trucking, accounting, and fast food.

Sanders has proposed several legislative measures, including the AI Data Center Moratorium Act and the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which seeks to establish a public ownership stake in major AI firms. He has also called for a pause in AI development in a demand sent to leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta.

In a related economic push, Sanders is advocating for a 32-hour workweek, arguing that workers should benefit from productivity gains driven by AI. The proposal aims to lower the federal standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours over four years without reducing pay. However, critics, including Club for Growth President David McIntosh, warn that the mandate could lead to job losses, reduced benefits, and increased costs for American families.