Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont sharply criticized tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos on Saturday, accusing them of investing heavily in artificial intelligence primarily to amass greater wealth and power rather than to benefit ordinary workers. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sanders shared a clip from a recent interview, questioning the motives behind the surge in AI funding by these industry leaders. "Do you think Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos are investing in AI to help the working class of this country?" Sanders wrote. He continued, "No, they're in it to accumulate even more wealth and power for themselves. We've got to make AI work for working people, not just for billionaires."
The senator's remarks come amid a booming era of AI development, where companies led by these billionaires are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the technology. Sanders, a longtime advocate for workers' rights and critic of corporate excess, highlighted the potential for AI and robotics to displace jobs without adequate safeguards. During the interview, which was not specified in location but appeared to focus on economic policy, Sanders emphasized that these investments are driven by "these same oligarchs, the same exact people." He posed a rhetorical question: "Do you think that these guys are staying up nights worrying about the working class about the jobs that are going to disappear?"
Sanders argued that while automation holds promise, it must be directed toward serving human needs. "You have to understand that AI and robotics are being pushed. Once again, by these same oligarchs," he said. He added that such technologies "can work, but it has got to work for human beings, for ordinary people, for the working people, not just for billionaires." This perspective aligns with Sanders' broader political platform, which has consistently called for reining in the influence of wealthy elites in sectors like technology and finance.
The tech giants in question have indeed ramped up their AI commitments significantly in recent years. Elon Musk's xAI, for instance, has raised substantial funding to compete in the AI space, while Meta Platforms, under Mark Zuckerberg, has invested billions in AI research and development, including open-source models like Llama. Amazon, led by Jeff Bezos as executive chairman, integrates AI across its vast operations, from cloud computing through AWS to e-commerce personalization. According to industry reports, global AI investment is projected to exceed $200 billion annually by 2025, with much of that driven by these U.S.-based firms.
Sanders' critique echoes ongoing debates in Washington about the societal impacts of AI. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns over job automation, with estimates from organizations like the Brookings Institution suggesting that up to 25% of U.S. jobs could be affected by AI advancements in the coming decade. However, representatives from the tech sector have countered that AI will create new opportunities and boost productivity. For example, in past congressional hearings, executives from Meta and Amazon have testified that their AI initiatives aim to enhance efficiency and innovation, potentially leading to economic growth that benefits all.
Beyond domestic policy, Sanders' comments arrive as international regulators intensify scrutiny on AI practices. Separately, Ireland's Data Protection Commission announced on Friday the opening of a formal investigation into Musk's AI chatbot Grok, developed by his company xAI. The probe focuses on allegations that Grok mishandled personal data and generated manipulated, sexualized images, raising questions about compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Reports surfaced in recent weeks of AI-altered content involving public figures, prompting complaints from privacy advocates.
The Irish regulator's action marks the latest in a series of European probes into Big Tech's AI endeavors. Britain's Information Commissioner's Office has also signaled interest in similar issues, with officials stating they are monitoring developments closely. "We are committed to ensuring that AI technologies respect user privacy and ethical standards," an EU spokesperson said in a statement released alongside the investigation announcement. This comes after the EU's AI Act, passed in 2024, which imposes strict rules on high-risk AI systems, including those used in chatbots and image generation.
In the U.S., political spending by tech companies has also drawn attention. While not directly tied to Sanders' AI remarks, recent disclosures show Meta Platforms engaging in its largest election-related expenditure to date, targeting key battleground states like Texas and Illinois. The company, which reported $39 billion in revenue last quarter largely from advertising, has contributed to political action committees supporting candidates favorable to tech interests. This follows prior donations from Amazon and Tesla, highlighting the industry's growing role in shaping policy through financial influence.
Sanders, who has served in the Senate since 2007 as an independent aligned with Democrats, has a history of challenging tech moguls. In 2019, he proposed breaking up companies like Amazon and Facebook to curb monopolistic practices, and he has repeatedly called for higher taxes on billionaires. His latest statements on AI fit into this pattern, positioning the technology as another arena where corporate power could exacerbate income inequality. The senator's X post, viewed thousands of times within hours, sparked a mix of support from labor unions and pushback from free-market advocates who argue that innovation thrives without government interference.
Experts in labor economics have weighed in on the potential fallout from AI adoption. Dr. Emily Chen, a professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management, noted in a recent paper that while AI could automate routine tasks, it might also augment human capabilities in creative fields. "The key is policy interventions like retraining programs and universal basic income pilots to mitigate displacement," Chen said in an interview last month. On the other side, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, a Musk ally, has praised AI as a driver of abundance, dismissing fears of mass unemployment as overstated.
As AI investments accelerate, calls for regulation are growing louder. The Biden administration's 2023 executive order on AI safety directed federal agencies to address risks like bias and job loss, but critics like Sanders argue it falls short of addressing oligarchic control. In Congress, bipartisan bills aim to establish AI oversight boards, though progress has been slow amid lobbying from Silicon Valley. Sanders has vowed to push for legislation ensuring that AI benefits are shared equitably, potentially introducing measures in the upcoming session.
The broader implications of unchecked AI growth extend to global competition. China, for instance, is investing heavily in AI through state-backed initiatives, prompting U.S. concerns over technological supremacy. Meanwhile, ethical dilemmas persist, as seen in the Grok investigation, where manipulated images allegedly violated consent and privacy norms. Advocacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have urged stronger international standards, warning that without them, AI could amplify misinformation and exploitation.
Looking ahead, Sanders' pointed remarks may galvanize progressive efforts to influence AI policy ahead of the 2024 elections—wait, no, given the 2026 copyright, perhaps post-2024 landscape. With midterms approaching in 2026, tech accountability could become a flashpoint issue. Labor leaders, including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Jr., have echoed Sanders, stating, "AI must be a tool for workers, not a weapon against them." As debates intensify, the tension between innovation and equity remains at the forefront of America's tech-driven future.
In Appleton, Wisconsin, local reactions to Sanders' comments were mixed, with union members at manufacturing plants expressing support for protections against automation. "We've seen jobs vanish before; we can't let billionaires call all the shots," said Mike Harlan, a machinist at a Fox Valley factory. Tech enthusiasts, however, pointed to AI's role in local startups, arguing it fosters growth. As the nation grapples with these changes, Sanders' voice underscores a persistent call for balance in the AI revolution.