Obama Urges Democrats to Confront Corporate AI Threats with Sweeping Safety Framework
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Former President Barack Obama called on Democratic leaders at a private fundraiser to prioritize a public conversation and a robust, people-first policy framework for AI safety, job protections, and shielding children from corporate exploitation.
Former President Barack Obama used a closed-door fundraiser in Manhattan to urge Democratic leaders to develop a comprehensive framework for managing artificial intelligence, emphasizing the urgent need to rein in unchecked corporate power. He told House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that the party must launch a 'public conversation' on AI safety, highlighting the alarming pace of private-sector development and the grave risks posed if regulators allow profit-driven tech giants to dictate the future. 'If we don’t get on top of it, I think it can be dangerous. If we do get on top of it, I do think it’s beneficial,' Obama said, pointing to the potential for AI to accelerate drug discovery and support clean-energy research—if, and only if, it is harnessed for the public good, not corporate greed. He also insisted that any plan must include strong measures to protect children from harmful content and exploitation by tech companies. The remarks come as Congress has taken only token action on AI policy ahead of the midterm elections, while industry investors salivate over a market projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2026. Both parties have begun running advertisements opposing new data centers that power AI models, a rare moment of unity against the unchecked expansion of Big Tech in the current political climate.