Divided left on ai's existential threats

On September 10, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) posted a critical message on Instagram, arguing that AI alarmism distracts from present harms. The post, authored by the DSA’s Tech Action Working Group, received over 25,000 likes. Alan Deng, a DSA member, emphasized that unregulated AI is already causing damage and that corporations should not be trusted to self-regulate. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders has embraced AI safety, linking it to job loss and existential risks. His data center moratorium bill, released in March, explicitly tied pausing construction to the need for federal AI regulation. Sanders has also aligned with right-wing figures like Steve Bannon, sparking internal debate. Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Humane Intelligence, noted that AI safety discourse benefits frontier labs by diverting attention and resources. Pragathi Barusubramanian, a DSA member, highlighted the disconnect between existential risk discussions and immediate harms like job displacement. A Politico poll shows two-thirds of Americans believe AI could destroy humanity, indicating growing public concern. Phil Aroneanu, executive director of Irreplaceable, argued that addressing both immediate and long-term AI risks is necessary. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while supporting Sanders’ data center moratorium, has focused more on job impacts and industry bubbles. The DSA’s upcoming convention resolution proposes banning superintelligence, a stance unlikely to please AI labs. As AI regulation debates intensify, the left faces the challenge of determining which regulations to prioritize, with many advocating for comprehensive federal, state, and city-level oversight.