WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders is raising the red flag on artificial intelligence’s dark side, warning that unchecked AI and automation could obliterate nearly 100 million American jobs over the next decade, handing massive profits to billionaires while leaving workers in the dust.
In a sweeping new report from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Sanders and fellow Democrats paint a stark picture of Big Tech’s “war against workers,” urging bold reforms to ensure technology serves people, not just CEOs.
The report, titled “The Big Tech Oligarchs’ War Against Workers: AI and Automation Could Destroy Nearly 100 Million U.S. Jobs in a Decade,” highlights how AI is already slashing payrolls at giants like Amazon and Walmart, even as they rake in billions.
Sanders, the Vermont independent and HELP Committee’s ranking member, didn’t hold back in a Fox News op-ed: “Artificial intelligence and robotics being developed by these multi-billionaires today will allow corporate America to wipe out tens of millions of decent-paying jobs, cut labor costs and boost profits.”
He zeroed in on oligarchs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison, accusing them of rigging the economy to replace human labor with “artificial labor” for their gain.
Details of the Analysis on Economic Trends
The analysis, powered by ChatGPT-based modeling, flags massive vulnerabilities across sectors: Up to 89% of fast food jobs, 64% of accounting roles, 47% of trucking positions, 40% of registered nurses, and 65% of teaching assistants could be automated.
Sanders emphasized that this isn’t just blue-collar doom; white-collar entry-level gigs are vanishing too, with AI founder Dario Amodei predicting half could disappear in five years.
“If we do not act, the result could be economic devastation for working people across this country,” Sanders wrote, calling for a future where AI benefits everyone, not just the top.
Democrats frame AI’s rise as less about innovation and more about consolidating power, contrasting sharply with Republicans who push for U.S. dominance to outpace China.
The report spotlights real-world examples: Companies like UnitedHealth Group and JPMorgan Chase are touting AI to trim staff while CEOs snag $25-35 million paydays.
Sanders slammed the trend: “Working people built this country. They deserve to benefit from new technology, not be thrown out on the street while billionaires get even richer.”
To counter the threat, the report proposes aggressive fixes: A 32-hour workweek without pay cuts, mandatory profit-sharing, and a “robot tax” on automated jobs to fund retraining and universal programs like free college and childcare.
Will Sanders’ Warning Pivot the AI Trend?
Sanders echoed earlier calls for worker board seats in big firms and a wealth tax on fortunes over $50 million to bankroll protections.
“We must stand up to the greed of Big Tech and make sure the future of artificial intelligence is a future that works for all of us—not just the people on top,” he concluded.
The warnings land amid a polarized debate. While Republicans caution against overregulation that could hand AI leadership to adversaries, Democrats see it as a class war, with automation widening inequality.
As AI tools like ChatGPT evolve, the report urges swift action to avoid a job apocalypse that hits working families hardest.
Will Sanders’ warning pivot the AI trend? Or is these merely a new chapter within our civilization where we must learn to adapt to these shifts as technology advances?
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