On the latest episode of the All-In Podcast, David Sacks, chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and host Chamath Palihapitiya described the recent surge in debate over runaway AI and "human extinction" as a public narrative serving Democratic political goals.
Sacks said that over the past few weeks, some people had tried to convince the public that AI would lead to human extinction and, from there, build support for a policy line centered on "stopping all AI development." He said so-called doomer groups had already prepared the ground for that narrative.
The discussion then turned to Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders and a proposal to restrict superintelligence. Sacks argued that the definitions involved and the criminal penalties attached to them would create a powerful chilling effect and leave AI development in the US at a standstill. He added that Democrats would push AI innovators and companies overseas, just as he said they had previously done with the crypto industry.
Sacks also said AI infrastructure had become an important engine of US economic growth, and that slowing AI investment and construction would weaken the economic performance of the Trump administration at the same time.
Angel investor Jason Calacanis backed that view, saying that if the US directly banned this category of software, companies and developers would look to more permissive jurisdictions such as Singapore and Switzerland.
Palihapitiya said that if regulation used a "pause button" to freeze the current industry structure, a small number of left-leaning frontier AI companies would capture most of the economic upside, then use charitable foundations, political action committees, and political donations to help Democrats gain more power.
The argument is now moving into the center of Washington policymaking. Trump and House Speaker Johnson are scheduled to meet AI company executives on September 29 to discuss how to balance AI development and regulation. Frontier model safety, open-source models, data center construction, and the boundaries of regulation are expected to be central topics.
The meeting is expected to take place at about 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time in the East Room of the White House.