Miami
An unusual cross-party coalition in Washington pushes for guardrails on artificial intelligence
Politicians from across the ideological spectrum gathered in the U.S. capital to argue for a human-centered approach to AI. The debate is intensifying as Donald Trump keeps calling for faster development.
An unlikely mix of U.S. political figures is elevating the fight over artificial intelligence in Washington. CBS News Miami reported that Tuesday’s Pro-Human Assembly brought together leaders from different camps, including former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, to call for safeguards on how the technology is developed.
The debate is gaining force as the tech industry and political leaders send conflicting signals. According to CBS News Miami, researcher Jacob Coxon resigned from Anthropic earlier this month and warned that while AI is currently safe for everyday use, it could become a threat to humanity as it grows more powerful. He also accused Anthropic and OpenAI of racing to build increasingly advanced models.
The same outlet said Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on Saturday for frontier AI labs to slow down, a position later echoed by OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both parties are also urging caution. Republican Rep. Chip Roy said at the conference that the issue goes beyond partisan politics. He pointed to concerns he hears from constituents in Texas about data centers competing for water, generating noise and raising broader anxieties about the future of communities and children. CBS News Miami said Roy also noted that some free-market Republicans have criticized him for raising those concerns, and he openly disagreed with Trump’s view that a strong president alone is enough to keep AI in check.
Democratic Rep. Greg Casar addressed the gathering as well, framing the matter in terms of global competition, while Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan emphasized the bipartisan mood in the room and in Congress. She also highlighted the FRONTIER Act, introduced with Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte, which would require independent evaluators for advanced AI models, among other provisions.
A CBS News poll cited by the outlet found that in May, 65% of Americans believed AI would reduce jobs, while 67% said the federal government probably or definitely would not ensure the technology is used appropriately.
At the same time, Trump posted seven messages about AI on Truth Social on Monday, dismissing fears about rapid development as a hoax and arguing that what is needed is a strong president. CBS News Miami also reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and AI company executives will meet with Trump at the White House within the next week.
Against that backdrop, Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Kansas that AI carries risks as well as benefits, and said the goal is to regulate it thoughtfully and smartly.
Bannon and Sanders were expected to speak later in the day, underscoring an unusual convergence between figures from opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
