Lawmakers say moratorium on construction would give buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AI

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/44996161

March 25, 2026

The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is “affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids’ education”.

“AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity,” Sanders said in an emailed statement. “The scale, scope, and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts.”

  • stringere@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    5 hours ago

    Why do local politicians do this

    Because too many people in the US only vote once every 4 years in national elections and don’t pay attention to their local ones.

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
      1·
      5 hours ago

      I meant why do they do this without the pay side of things. I get corruption since it directly benefits the individual but without that its just stupid. There’s no gain and you risk making yourself a target if folks get pissed off enough.

      • stringere@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        4 hours ago

        you risk making yourself a target if folks get pissed off enough

        They would have to be paying attention enough to notice, first. Sinclair and others steadily gobbling up local tv and radio stations has created local news deserts across the nation.

        • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          3 hours ago

          People notice their power bills and the horrid white noise these things make. Frankly speaking the propaganda only does so much, and just not acknowledging it does nothing towards the narrative.

          • stringere@sh.itjust.works
            2·
            1 hour ago

            I only found out about our county trying to sneak a data center in after the plan had already been withdrawn. They were working on all of it in closed meetings but fortunately some folks found out and when they brought it out in the open where the community would see, it quickly disappeared. Now we’re all on watch for when they try this shit again.