US Senator Bernie Sanders, the well-known Democratic lawmaker, recently raised the alarm over the potential dangers that artificial intelligence (AI) poses to the United States. He did so in a speech broadcast in recent days, as well as in an opinion article published  earlier this month in the widely read British newspaper, The Guardian, under the title: “Artificial Intelligence Poses Unprecedented Threats. Congress Must Act Now.” Sanders’ intervention provides an important point of departure for a broader discussion about the risks associated with the global spread of artificial intelligence, whether in its popular, civilian form, exemplified by platforms such as ChatGPT, or in its security-driven, sovereign manifestation, represented by systems like Palantir. For societies beyond the United States, the consequences of this diffusion may prove even more profound and potentially more dangerous.

In his article, Sanders warned that artificial intelligence and robotics are poised to fundamentally reshape the world, ushering in changes that are difficult to imagine. He expressed deep concern that, in the not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence could displace human agency in governing the planet itself, warning that this issue continues to be dangerously overlooked despite the speed with which its threats are evolving. Sanders went on to detail the profound impact of artificial intelligence on human life, arguing that every phone call we make, every email we send, and every search we conduct is potentially accessible to the owners of AI systems. He also cautioned against the growing influence of artificial intelligence on warfare and on the fabric of human relationships.

Specialised reports indicate that just five major companies, Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and OpenAI, now control an estimated 80 to 90 percent of the research resources and core infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence. This concentration of power places decisive influence in the hands of a small circle of the world’s wealthiest individuals, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, and others, who are directing investments worth hundreds of billions of dollars into the development of artificial intelligence and robotics, effectively shaping the future of humanity with little meaningful oversight or accountability. Elon Musk has recently argued that artificial intelligence and robotics will eventually replace all jobs. Similarly, Dario Amodei, the chief executive of Anthropic, has cautioned that artificial intelligence could lead to the loss of as many as half of entry-level white-collar jobs. Others have gone further still. Larry Ellison, the world’s second-wealthiest individual, has openly speculated about the emergence of an AI-powered surveillance system.

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Donald Trump has emerged as a staunch defender of Big Tech elites. He has pledged to roll back regulatory constraints on artificial intelligence, including rescinding an executive order issued by former president Joe Biden that sought to establish guardrails for AI development, replacing it with measures aimed at removing what he describes as “barriers to innovation.” Trump has repeatedly argued for loosening restrictions on major technology companies to bolster their global competitiveness and has advocated limiting the ability of U.S. states to regulate artificial intelligence. Peter Thiel, the billionaire investor and co-founder of Palantir, has likewise been an outspoken critic of efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, frequently portraying regulation as a threat to technological progress and national power. By contrast, Sanders has called for the United States to assert firm regulatory authority over AI companies, urging lawmakers to discipline their conduct, guide the trajectory of their development through law, enact binding legislation, and establish robust oversight mechanisms.

Today, artificial intelligence has become intertwined with growing fears of a centralised global authority, one capable of exerting control through the monopolisation of information by a small group of individuals. This........

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