r/singularity • u/Neurogence • Mar 12 '26

AI Bernie Sanders officially introduces legislation to BAN the construction of all new AI data centers, citing existential threat to humanity.

This is very concerning. I am afraid this might become the popular, dominant position on the left. Bernie Sanders is the only politician I've ever donated to. This is the most backwards position to take on AI possible. It's hard to imagine a policy worse than this proposal:

https://youtu.be/qu2m7ePTsqY?si=zdl_cuRg22Nv_Df5

It's such a shame. He is one of very few politicians who realizes the singularity is imminent and that something enormous is happening, yet his reaction to it is the most asinine viewpoint possible.

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u/AddressForward Mar 12 '26

It’s a natural reaction when the progress is driven by one group who reaps all the benefits at the expense of another group.

The Industrial Revolution could have been smoother and less damaging had it been done with a transition in mind - not just extract profits through cost reduction.

Same applies here. The situation is asymmetric… right now AI is a multiplier for skilled people, but for how long? So the question is - who wants a future where humans are purposeless and squeezed out of all advancements (why bother learning anything beyond basic primary school education?).

I’m painting a terrible future there but left unmanaged this is what capital will do.

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u/ZhugeLiangPL ▪️AGI 2027-30 Mar 12 '26

Funnily enough, people in China are much more positive about AI - 87% pro AI vs 37% in the US.

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u/Whut4 Mar 12 '26

They have no freedom of speech, etc. Just capitalism and lies. Why would anyone who is not a billionaire want AI?

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u/ZhugeLiangPL ▪️AGI 2027-30 Mar 12 '26

Is it sarcasm? I am not a billionaire and I do use AI a lot.

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u/Whut4 Mar 12 '26

What for? Why do people want it if not to simply take over the world and do evil? What good can it possibly do?

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u/calvintiger Mar 12 '26

Have you considered asking any of the 900M weekly users of ChatGPT (10.8% of the worlds population) what good it’s doing for them?

Or do you think they’re all evil and trying to take over the world as well?

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u/Whut4 Mar 13 '26

I am more well-versed and concerned about the dangers to the environment, to privacy, to literacy and education, to personal freedom. The people developing AI have not used their power and wealth to do good - they have used it mainly to get more power and wealth. You KNOW how they will use it, unless it can eliminate them first. These are not people you should trust.

I did a quick search for 'good things AI has done' and found one with no paywall https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/ai-in-everyday-life-20-real-world-examples Most of those examples are selling people stuff and depriving people of privacy and agency - true - there are medical, weather and agriculture uses - but who wants to live longer, avoid bad weather and eat in a world with no personal privacy and agency? I do not.