# Bernie Sanders Sounds the Alarm on AI: Billionaire Enrichment, Worker Rights, and Doomsday Scenarios
When Senator Bernie Sanders speaks about economic inequality, people listen. Now, he’s turning his attention to one of the most pressing—and controversial—issues of our time: artificial intelligence. In a recent discussion, Sanders didn’t hold back, warning that unchecked AI development could further widen the wealth gap, exploit workers, and even pose existential risks.
## AI: A Tool for Billionaires or a Benefit for All?
Sanders has long been a vocal critic of corporate greed, and his concerns about AI follow the same theme. He argues that without proper regulation, AI advancements will primarily serve the ultra-wealthy, automating jobs without redistributing the gains.
“If history is any indicator, technological revolutions tend to benefit those at the top unless we intervene,” Sanders warns. “We can’t let AI become another way for billionaires to hoard wealth while workers suffer.”
His solution? Policies that ensure AI-driven productivity boosts translate into better wages, shorter workweeks, and stronger labor protections.
## The Push for a 32-Hour Work Week
One of Sanders’ boldest proposals is reducing the standard workweek to 32 hours—without cutting pay. He believes AI and automation should give workers more freedom, not less job security.
“Machines can handle the grind,” he says. “People deserve time for family, creativity, and rest.”
Countries like Iceland have already tested shorter workweeks with success, reporting higher productivity and improved well-being. Sanders wants the U.S. to follow suit, framing it as a necessary evolution in the age of AI.
## The ‘Doomsday Scenario’ That Has Experts Worried
Beyond economics, Sanders also echoes warnings from AI researchers about the potential for catastrophic outcomes. From mass surveillance to autonomous weapons, the risks are real—and growing.
“We’re playing with fire,” he says. “If we don’t set strict ethical boundaries now, we could face consequences we can’t undo.”
Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and even some OpenAI researchers have voiced similar concerns, calling for regulatory oversight before AI advances beyond human control. Sanders insists that corporate self-regulation isn’t enough—governments must step in.
## What’s Next?
Sanders’ message is clear: AI should empower humanity, not endanger it. The question is whether policymakers will act before it’s too late.
Will we harness AI for shared prosperity, or let it deepen inequality and risk disaster? The clock is ticking.