More than two dozen members of Congress and several governors told Axios that they rarely or never use artificial intelligence (AI). Many of those who reported minimal personal use are older, influential lawmakers who occupy key committee positions and therefore play important roles in shaping AI policy.
Why this matters
These admissions come as calls increase for an AI slowdown and stricter regulation, and as some industry voices warn of existential risks if AI is left unchecked. Critics argue that lawmakers who do not use AI — or dismiss it outright — may struggle to understand the technology’s rapid changes, potential harms, and scientific implications, which complicates effective policy-making.
Who says they don't use AI
Several senior lawmakers told Axios they have not tried AI or do not use it personally:
- Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), 75 and chair of the Armed Services Committee: “Heavens no,” when asked if he uses AI.
- Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), 74 and the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee: “Personally? I don't think I've ever used it.”
- Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), 78: “No,” on personal use, while adding that she might try it and that Congress has not yet figured out how much AI to regulate.
- Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), 83 and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “I do not personally use it.”
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), 83 and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee: “On a personal level, no,” and said she needs a “primer on AI.”
A Republican senator who spoke anonymously told Axios that the share of lawmakers who use AI is “not very high,” a factor the senator said contributes to reflexively negative reactions toward the technology as public opinion grows more skeptical.
Staff use and partial familiarity
Some elected officials said they do not use AI much themselves but noted that staffers employ such tools. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), 48, said he uses an AI-powered Google summary feature occasionally but does not use AI for research or writing; he supports robust regulation and insists final decisions must remain human-made.
Others were unsure if they had ever used AI or said they had only encountered it incidentally:
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), 70: “I don't think I do. If I Google something, it kicks off an AI thing, but that's about as far as I go.”
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), 88: “I don't know. I can't remember.”
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), 73: said she does not seek AI out, but it “pops up on my phone occasionally.”
- Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), 68: “Not intentionally,” and noted AI email summarizers often get things wrong.
Arguments about whether personal use matters
Some lawmakers say they do not need to be AI users to legislate it. Sen. Tim Kaine said he has read extensively and trusts his own judgment more than an AI. After his interview, Rep. Frank Pallone provided a statement saying, in essence, that one does not need to use a harmful product to understand it requires regulation.
But some colleagues were surprised or annoyed that peers seeking to regulate AI have not tried it. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), 74, reacted, “Are you serious? I use it for everything! I can't believe there's a senator that doesn't use AI.”
Not all senior officials avoid AI
There are senior lawmakers who use AI regularly. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), 79 and ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, told Axios he uses AI “every day.” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), 76, said he returned to school for a master's in machine learning and prefers the Claude model.
Broader context
Other prominent officials have also said recently that they do not use AI. In late 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), 54, said in an interview he did not think he had ever used AI. Around the same time, Karoline Leavitt, then press secretary to President Donald Trump, said she did not think Trump personally uses AI, even though his social accounts regularly post AI-made content.
Conclusion
The candid acknowledgments from more than two dozen elected officials that they rarely or never use AI highlight a gap between those crafting policy and the technology they aim to regulate. The debate continues over how much personal experience with AI is necessary for effective oversight and how lawmakers can keep up with a rapidly evolving field.
