Bernie Sanders Leads Capitol Hill AI Panel Calling for International Regulation

On Wednesday, April 29 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a Capitol Hill panel with Chinese AI researchers Xue Lan (Tsinghua University) and Zeng Yi (Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance). They said unchecked AI could spread misinformation, erode privacy, isolate adolescents, trigger unemployment, and enable super-intelligent systems beyond designers’ intent. Sanders urged an international treaty, likening the need to nuclear accords, to impose safeguards.

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In March 2026, Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a bill to halt AI data-center construction until safety standards are set. Sanders warned AI and robotics constitute “the most sweeping technological revolution,” and that Congress lags in grasping its speed and scale. The panel said AI could reshape power, amplify misinformation, compromise data, and widen the gap between nations that control advanced AI and those that do not. He warned of a “runaway train” of automation that could displace workers and threaten stability.

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Sanders called for “cooperation” and “dialogue,” proposing a treaty that would bind AI developers to safety standards. Xue Lan warned that a world where only a few nations control powerful AI is “unimaginable,” urging equitable access. Zeng Yi cautioned that super-intelligent systems could act beyond human intent. Sobolik acknowledged Sanders’ concerns but warned against collaboration with Chinese authorities. Bessent advocated an America-first approach, arguing the United States should set AI standards. Ocasio-Cortez’s co-authored bill seeks to pause AI data-center construction pending regulatory clarity.

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Conservative commentators questioned involving Chinese scientists, arguing it could compromise U.S. security. Sobolik’s remarks reflected foreign-influence skepticism, and Bessent framed any non-U.S. AI leadership as a threat to national interests.

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• “We need to cooperate. We need dialogue.” — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

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• “It is unimaginable to think of a world that only few countries and few companies have the most powerful tool but the rest of the world is impoverated with nothing.” — Xue Lan, Tsinghua University

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• “Senator Sanders’ concerns about AI are overstated, but I respect them. We should be asking questions about child safety, community impact, and economic displacement.” — Michael Sobolik, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

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• “The United States is home to the most talented AI researchers in the world. The real threat to AI safety is letting any nation other than the United States set the global standard.” — Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary

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The sources provide no quantitative estimates of job losses, misinformation spread, or the timeline for super-intelligent system emergence, leaving policymakers without concrete metrics for regulation.

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Congress will debate the AI data-center moratorium bill while diplomatic channels explore an international AI treaty. Panels with U.S. and Chinese experts are planned to address the “AI divide” before the technology outpaces governance frameworks.

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