Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) would like Congress to do something about artificial intelligence. Soon. And he is not being subtle about who he thinks is currently in charge.
In a post on X on Monday, Khanna went after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for planning to send lawmakers home at the end of the week, arguing that Congress should instead be prioritizing AI regulation.
“We are being ruled by tech lords who are regulating themselves,” Khanna wrote.
"Instead of acting, Johnson is sending Congress home at the end of the week because he does not see AI as urgent," he added.
He continued, "The future of AI cannot be governed by the companies building it."
Khanna Wants Real Consequences, Not Just Guidelines
In a video shared alongside the post, Khanna called for Congress to take action immediately and impose tougher consequences on AI developers.
"Congress needs to throw AI builders and executives in jail if they build a rogue AI which causes us to lose control," he said.
He also called for a federal AI agency, along with mandatory insurance and strict liability requirements for AI models that cause harm.
"We can’t let the tech lords make the rules. We need to make the rules in Congress," Khanna said.
Johnson Says Guardrails, Yes. Stifling Innovation, No.
On Sunday, Johnson said Congress needed carefully designed AI guardrails that addressed potential harms without weakening U.S. innovation or its technological advantage over China.
Johnson said there was a sense of urgency around creating AI safety rules and highlighted Congress’ bipartisan efforts.
He also called for a meeting with AI platform providers and experts to discuss the next steps and the responsibility of companies to ensure their products are safe.
The Pressure Campaign Is Getting Louder
Last week, Cryptocurrency bettors raised odds that the U.S. will pass an AI safety bill this year after OpenAI backed mandatory national standards.
OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said, "Safety does not stand in the way of progress; it is what allows progress to go further and benefit more people."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) argued that public support for stronger AI oversight was being weakened by the industry’s political spending, citing an 81% public concern that Congress was not doing enough and more than $300 million spent against candidates supporting tougher regulations.
In August, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Congress needed to act quickly to address AI’s economic and national security risks while maintaining the U.S. technological edge.
He said AI could not be reversed and urged policies that protected jobs, national security, and America’s competitiveness.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
