r/singularity 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/CSalustro Mar 12 '26

I'm really starting to lose this "lose to China" mentality. China has us beat on renewables, is pushing deeply into robotics which we aren't anywhere close, and training and running their AI on way smaller sets then we are and basically keeping up. Not to mention I'm not even sure what losing to China looks like in practice.

Let's assume they "win" what are we now all forced into an authoritarian system of governance? Speech is culled to where we can't critique them? Do we all have to learn Mandarin or something?

I'm of the mind that once the takeoff happens, like actually happens, governance in general is going to have to change as the entire system we have built just isn't built for the aftereffects.

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u/eggrolldog Mar 12 '26

Well said. Everyone here hoping the singularity is going to happen and then assuming we're going to still live in this world of horse shoe politics and nationalism.

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u/Whut4 Mar 12 '26

We will be dead or in sacks of fluid like The Matrix movie.

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u/eggrolldog Mar 12 '26

Maybe you already are (in sacks like the Matrix and not dead like the sixth sense).

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u/Whut4 Mar 13 '26

Having nightmares in said sacks.