Overview
- Sanders released a video this week saying he will push a nationwide pause on building AI data centers to give “democracy a chance to catch up.”
- He argues tech billionaires are driving AI to consolidate wealth and power, warns of large‑scale job losses and harms to children’s social development, and raises privacy concerns.
- He underscores grid strain, citing estimates that data centers already use roughly 5% of U.S. electricity and pointing to proposed facilities in Louisiana and Texas with city‑scale power needs.
- The call drew immediate pushback, including a sharp exchange with Elon Musk and criticism from commentators such as Peter Schiff, while industry advocates argue the answer is expanding energy supply, not halting construction.
- Analysts and outlets say the moratorium is unlikely to advance as the administration promotes rapid buildouts, even as Senate Democrats probe how AI data centers affect utility rates.