Senator Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon, figures from opposite ends of the American political spectrum, appeared together at the “Pro-Human Assembly” in Washington this week to voice shared concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Both men argued that the current trajectory of AI development is controlled by a small group of tech “oligarchs” and requires significant government intervention to protect the public interest.

Despite their agreement on the need for domestic guardrails, the two diverged significantly on the geopolitical implications of AI. The discussion centered on the ongoing technological race with China, which both speakers acknowledged as a primary factor in the current AI landscape. However, they presented conflicting strategies for how the United States should manage this competition. While Sanders focused on the domestic risks of corporate power, Bannon framed the issue within the context of a broader ideological and strategic conflict with China, reflecting the differing priorities of the progressive and populist movements they represent.

The event highlighted a rare moment of cross-partisan alignment on the issue of technology regulation, even as the speakers maintained their distinct ideological frameworks. The call for oversight suggests a growing consensus among some political factions that the current self-regulation model used by Silicon Valley is insufficient to address the societal risks posed by advanced AI systems.