Bernie Sanders Warns AI Could 'Eliminate Tens of Millions of Jobs' in Fiery Speech on Billionaires and Inequality

Bernie Sanders warned that artificial intelligence could 'eliminate tens of millions of jobs' and argued that decisions over the technology should not be left to a small group of wealthy technology companies and individuals.

Speaking at Riverside Church in New York on 21 September, the independent senator from Vermont made AI a central part of a broader speech about wealth, political power, and inequality. He also called for stronger international action to address the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

Sanders' remarks came one day before United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the General Assembly on 22 September and highlighted artificial intelligence, inequality, and climate change among major global challenges.

Sanders Raises Alarm Over AI Jobs

Sanders described AI and robotics as among the most transformational technologies in human history. But he focused heavily on what that transformation could mean for workers.

In his prepared remarks, Sanders warned that AI could 'eliminate tens of millions of jobs.' He questioned how the economic gains from AI would be distributed and whether workers would benefit from the technology or face widespread displacement. His concerns extended beyond employment.

Sanders also warned that AI could enable mass surveillance and threaten privacy. He raised concerns about deepfakes and the growing difficulty of distinguishing genuine information from fabricated material.

The Technology Is Still Developing

A central part of Sanders' argument was that today's AI systems may represent only an early stage of the technology. He questioned where AI could be in two, four or 10 years and whether governments and societies would be able to keep up with its development. Sanders argued that policymakers need to address the technology before its capabilities become even more difficult to regulate.

Guterres raised similar concerns in his General Assembly address on 22 September. He identified artificial intelligence as one of four major 'tests of power' facing humanity, alongside war and peace, inequality, and climate change. He said AI was advancing rapidly and that power was increasingly concentrated in data, computing capacity, and algorithms. Guterres also warned about technology without accountability and called for international cooperation, safeguards, and independent oversight around AI.

Sanders Says Big Tech Should Not Decide AI's Future

Sanders argued that decisions about AI should not be left to a small number of technology companies and wealthy individuals. He called for governments and the public to have a greater role in determining how powerful AI systems are developed and used.

He also linked the concentration of technological power to broader concerns about democratic institutions and the ability of governments and citizens to influence decisions affecting their lives. Sanders discussed the possibility of a comprehensive international agreement involving US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In his remarks, Sanders proposed a treaty that could include a pause on advanced AI development and restrictions on AI superintelligence. These were Sanders' proposals rather than an existing international agreement.

AI Warning Came Amid Broader Attack on Inequality

AI was only one part of Sanders' Riverside Church speech. Much of his address focused on the concentration of wealth and political influence among billionaires. Sanders argued that a small group of wealthy individuals and corporations has gained substantial influence over politics, the economy, and public life. He connected that concentration of power to the future development of artificial intelligence.

For Sanders, the question is not simply whether AI can make businesses more productive. It is also who owns the technology, who controls its development, and how its economic benefits are distributed. He argued that technological progress should improve living standards rather than deepen existing economic inequality.

A Wider Debate About AI and Power

The timing of Sanders' remarks placed them alongside a broader international discussion about AI governance. Sanders spoke at Riverside Church on 21 September, one day before Guterres addressed the opening of the General Assembly's 81st session.

Guterres said power was being reshaped by the growing influence of private corporations and individuals, as well as by artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. He called for stronger international cooperation on AI, including work towards a multilateral AI risk-management framework supported by independent oversight. He also said that life-and-death decisions should never be surrendered to machines.

The Question Facing Governments

Sanders' speech ultimately returned to a broader question about economic and political power. His position is that technological change should not be determined solely by the companies and individuals developing the most powerful systems.

The policy debate over AI includes questions about employment, privacy, surveillance, misinformation, regulation, and international cooperation. For workers, the potential impact remains one of the central issues.

Sanders' warning is that AI could displace 'tens of millions of jobs,' while his broader argument focuses on who controls the technology and how its economic benefits are distributed. The question is therefore not only how quickly AI develops, but also how governments, companies, and societies respond to its economic and social effects.