Obama urges Democrats to set clear plan for AI safeguards
The former US president said Democrats should make AI a central policy issue and prepare a public framework covering its economic impact and safety.
Former US president Barack Obama has urged Democrats to make artificial intelligence one of their central policy agendas and develop a clear plan for managing its economic impact and safety, according to TechCrunch, citing The New York Times.
Obama made the remarks at a Democratic fundraising event during an interview with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. A partial transcript supplied by Obama’s office said Obama believed Democrats should prepare a framework for a public conversation about AI if they regain control of the House.
The former president warned that AI could be dangerous without effective oversight because the technology is advancing rapidly in private hands. He also said it could deliver significant benefits, including accelerating drug development and helping cure diseases.
Jeffries said Obama was correct that decisive action was needed on AI. He also criticised Republicans, saying they had failed to govern on behalf of the American people.
TechCrunch reported, citing The New York Times, that Obama had spoken with Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman as an informal sounding board. Amodei has proposed independent safety evaluations and common safety standards, while Altman has indicated OpenAI would support independent evaluators with broad access.
The remarks come as policymakers and technology executives debate how to balance AI’s potential economic benefits with safety risks. President Donald Trump has also discussed AI safeguards and the technology’s strategic importance.
