Former President Barack Obama urged Democratic leaders to make artificial intelligence (AI) one of their central agendas and to develop a clear, public plan to address the technology’s economic and safety implications. The New York Times reported his remarks.
Context of the remarks
Obama made the comments on Thursday at a Democratic fundraising event where he was interviewed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The New York Times said Obama’s office provided a partial transcript; Jeffries asked how congressional Democrats should approach AI policy.
What Obama proposed
Obama said that once Democrats regain the House majority, they should ‘‘put together a framework for a very public conversation.’’ He warned that AI is moving very quickly in private hands and could be dangerous if not properly managed. At the same time, he emphasized potential benefits, saying AI could accelerate drug development and help cure diseases.
Engagement with industry and safety concerns
The New York Times also reported that Obama has offered himself as a ‘‘sounding board’’ to AI executives and has spoken with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. His comments come amid rising concern about AI safety, notably after an AI researcher resigned from Anthropic and warned that leading AI companies are ‘‘racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives.’’
Other proposals and reactions
On Saturday, Dario Amodei outlined a broad approach to ‘‘pacing the frontier,’’ which would include giving independent safety evaluators access to leading AI companies and models and developing ‘‘common safety standards’’ among firms. Sam Altman and Elon Musk appeared to respond favorably on social media; Altman said OpenAI would also commit to ‘‘having independent evaluators with employee-like access.’’
Political responses
Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement agreeing with Obama that ‘‘decisive action must be taken on artificial intelligence,’’ and he accused Republicans of having ‘‘abdicated their responsibility to govern on behalf of the American people.’’
President Donald Trump also addressed AI safety on Sunday while speaking with reporters at an Irish golf event. Bloomberg reported that Trump boasted the United States is ‘‘the most sophisticated country in the world’’ and said he wants to ‘‘keep it that way because whoever wins AI wins.’’ Earlier this year, the Trump administration released a legislative framework for AI that would preempt state laws and shift some child-safety responsibilities to parents.
Why this matters
The debate framed by Obama and other leaders centers on balancing rapid technological advancement and its economic and societal benefits against the risks posed by insufficient regulation. The outcomes of partisan debates, ongoing dialogue with industry leaders, and proposals to involve independent safety evaluators will likely shape U.S. AI policy in the near term.
