Sanders Sounds Alarm on AI Job Losses: “Corporate Leaders Couldn’t Care Less”
Bernie Sanders isn’t mincing words when it comes to artificial intelligence. In a recent interview on *The Joe Rogan Experience*, the Vermont senator warned that AI and robotics could wipe out millions of jobs—while corporate bosses pocket the profits.
“Here’s what I worry about,” Sanders said. “Artificial intelligence will displace millions of workers. People will be thrown out on the streets.” His tone was blunt, almost weary. “The corporate guys running these companies couldn’t care less.”
It’s not the first time Sanders has raised the issue. Back in April, during a CNN town hall, he pointed to Elon Musk’s mass layoffs as a grim preview of what AI might bring. “If this is how they treat public sector employees, imagine what they’ll do to private sector workers,” he said.
A Push for Worker Protections—and Shorter Hours
Sanders isn’t against technology itself. He admits it could do some good—if it’s managed right. But right now, he argues, the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy. To counter that, he’s pushing for familiar solutions: free education, universal healthcare, and a higher minimum wage.
One idea that got less attention? Cutting the workweek to 32 hours. Instead of firing half the staff and overworking the rest, Sanders suggests spreading the hours around. “We’re not going to let a handful of CEOs make these decisions,” he said. “The American people’ll make them.”
It’s a bold stance, and even Sanders admits pulling it off won’t be easy. But he’s clearly worried about the alternative.
AI Friends and a “Crisis of Meaning”
Some experts say job losses could lead to something darker—a wave of loneliness, with people turning to AI companions for comfort. Sanders mocked the idea during the interview, sarcastically quoting Mark Zuckerberg: *“We got a friend for you on AI, and her name is Mary, and you can chat with her 20 hours a day, and she really loves you.”*
The audience laughed, but Sanders wasn’t joking. “We are human beings,” he said, his voice tightening. “The answer is not to fall in love with your AI creature.”
It’s a strange, unsettling vision of the future—one where machines replace not just jobs, but human connection. Sanders seems determined to fight it, though he’s vague on how. For now, his message is simple: if we don’t act soon, the cost could be far worse than any of us expect.
Maybe he’s right. Or maybe it’s already too late. Either way, the conversation is just getting started.
