House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called for lawmakers to "act urgently" to address the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI), urging decisive action to manage its pace of development.
"We certainly need to begin to act urgently to address the challenges that exist," Jeffries stated on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” He emphasized the need to "slow down the pace of development in order to protect the American people and ensure that AI is proceeding safely.”
Jeffries' remarks followed stark warnings from Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, who expressed concerns that AI development could lead to catastrophic outcomes by the end of the decade.
The Democratic caucus is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, with artificial intelligence designated as a "high priority."
Jeffries also addressed remarks made by former President Donald Trump regarding the upcoming midterm elections. Trump's promise of a $5,000 payment to Americans if Republicans win in November was dismissed by Jeffries as an unserious proposal, citing past unfulfilled promises by Trump. Jeffries asserted that the election on the ballot includes the state of the economy, the cost of living, and foreign policy decisions.
Regarding internal party dynamics, Jeffries responded to a question about progressive Democrats, stating that the immediate focus is on regaining control of the House of Representatives. He outlined party goals including lowering the cost of living, making healthcare affordable, and combating corruption.
Jeffries also defended a recent meeting with Jared Kushner, stating that communication with individuals across the political spectrum is sometimes necessary.