Sanders discusses AI regulation, data center moratorium, and sovereign wealth fund
9 reported
In a recent interview with WIRED, Senator Bernie Sanders discussed his efforts to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, including a proposed moratorium on data center construction and the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. Sanders stated that AI is being pushed by the wealthiest people in the world, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, who he said could care less about the needs of ordinary people. He noted that as of the interview date, June 23, 2026, no significant piece of legislation dealing with AI had been passed in Congress. Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation in March 2026 to halt data center construction until safeguards are implemented. The American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, announced in June 2026, would tax AI companies with revenues of $200 million or more and result in direct payments to American citizens. Sanders argued that the public should own half of these industries, with half of the board members representing the public, to prevent a handful of billionaires from determining the future of humanity. He also cited concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, children’s mental health, and privacy rights, and called for campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of wealthy donors.
What’s reported
Senator Bernie Sanders was interviewed by WIRED on June 23, 2026, during the New York Democratic primary.
Sanders stated that AI is the most consequential, transformational technology in the history of humanity.
He said that as of the interview date, no significant piece of legislation dealing with AI had been passed in Congress.
In March 2026, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation to halt data center construction until safeguards are implemented.
In June 2026, Sanders announced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would tax AI companies with revenues of $200 million or more and result in direct payments to American citizens.
Sanders proposed that the public should own half of these industries, with half of the board members representing the public.
He cited concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, children’s mental health, and privacy rights.
Sanders called for campaign finance reform, including getting rid of Citizens United and super PACs.
The interview noted that a coalition of democratic socialists swept their respective elections in the New York primary, and Representative Frank Pallone publicly supported an AI data center moratorium.
Key figures
Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont senator, progressive)
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (frequent collaborator)
Representative Frank Pallone (New Jersey, top Democrat on House Energy and Commerce Committee)
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg (wealthy individuals pushing AI)
Alex Bores (candidate in New York primaries)
Sources: Wired
