Sanders urges AI leaders to pause development over risks

Senator Bernie Sanders has called on the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta to hit the brakes on AI development, citing recent high-profile hacks that exposed sensitive data and raised alarms about unchecked technological growth. In a letter sent Monday, Sanders told OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg that Congress will step in if the industry won’t act responsibly. The letter follows a wave of cyberattacks targeting AI labs and cloud providers, including the 2023 breach of Microsoft’s AI research division and last month’s compromise of Anthropic’s internal systems.

The push comes as Washington grapples with how to regulate AI without stifling innovation. Sanders, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, argues that rapid expansion of powerful AI models is outpacing safeguards. His letter points to reports that Chinese state-linked hackers have repeatedly targeted U.S. AI firms, raising national security stakes. It also echoes growing frustration among lawmakers over the lack of binding federal rules, despite years of hearings and voluntary pledges from tech giants.

The CEOs have not yet responded publicly, but industry insiders say a blanket pause is unlikely. OpenAI and others have pointed to internal safety reviews and external audits as evidence of responsible progress. Still, independent researchers warn that even locked-down models can be weaponized when released or leaked. A senior cybersecurity official told The Hill that AI systems are increasingly used to craft convincing phishing emails and deepfake scams, making them attractive targets for criminals and foreign adversaries.

Congress is already drafting bills that would require AI firms to report breaches, test models for safety and allow third-party audits. Sanders’ letter signals that lawmakers may bypass industry self-regulation and impose stricter measures if voluntary steps fall short. The timing is critical: the EU’s AI Act is set to take full effect next year, and U.S. policymakers are under pressure to keep pace. If the tech giants refuse to slow down, Capitol Hill could move quickly—with hearings, subpoenas and new legislation aimed at controlling the next wave of AI tools before they spin further out of control.