Live updates: Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon to join diverse speakers at ‘Pro-Human’ AI conference, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-ai-tech-congress-2026-midterm-election-iran-live-updates-rcna597782)
15-09-2026
The news covers the “Pro-Human Assembly,” a high-profile AI safety conference organized in Washington, D.C., by the Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit focused on mitigating existential risks and maintaining human control over advanced technology.Key Highlights of the News
- An Unlikely Political Alliance: The gathering has drawn widespread attention because it puts figures from polar opposites of the political spectrum on the same stage. Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and right-wing populist strategist Steve Bannon are both featured speakers, united by deep skepticism regarding the unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence.
- Core Themes: The assembly focuses on whether advanced AI developmentparticularly the pursuit of artificial superintelligenceshould be slowed, paused, or subjected to enforceable government oversight rather than relying on voluntary corporate commitments. Discussions center on human labor displacement, cybersecurity risks, environmental strains caused by massive data centers, and potential loss of human control over autonomous systems.
- Sanders’ Perspective: Sanders has called for hitting the brakes rather than merely “pacing” AI development, urging international agreements (specifically between the U.S. and China) to halt autonomous superintelligence. He has also advocated for worker protections, such as creating a sovereign wealth fund so that everyday citizens share in the profits created by automation.
- Bannon’s Stance: Bannon has labeled AI “the most dangerous technology in the history of mankind,” framing the issue through an anti-establishment, populist lens that questions the concentration of immense power and wealth in the hands of a small circle of Silicon Valley tech executives.
- Industry Backdrop: The event follows intensifying debate within the tech sector, amplified by high-profile resignations and warnings from industry insiders (such as former OpenAI and Anthropic safety researchers) raising alarms about companies rushing toward self-improving systems without adequate safeguards.