Former President Barack Obama is urging Democrats to place artificial intelligence at the center of their political agenda, warning that the rapidly evolving technology could become dangerous without stronger oversight. Obama made the remarks during a private fundraiser in New York City, where he appeared alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and addressed party donors and lawmakers.
Obama said policymakers risk losing control of an industry that is developing largely in private hands. «This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don’t get on top of it, I think can be dangerous,» he said. «If we do get on top of it, I do think it’s beneficial.» He pointed to potential benefits such as accelerating drug development and helping identify pathways toward a clean energy future.
The former president also directed his message at Jeffries, urging him to prepare Democrats to make AI policy a public issue if the party wins control of the House. «Once you are speaker, I would strongly urge that the Democrats put together a framework for a very public conversation,» Obama said. He called on prospective 2028 presidential candidates to develop a «very clear plan» for AI and to make the technology one of their «central agendas,» identifying job displacement and effects on children as key issues to address.
Jeffries backed Obama’s call for action and sought to draw a contrast with Republicans. «President Obama is correct that decisive action must be taken on artificial intelligence,» Jeffries said, adding that «Republicans have abdicated their responsibility to govern on behalf of the American people. We will not repeat their error.» House Democrats are already developing an AI policy framework that is expected to be released this fall after review by Jeffries.
The push comes as public anxiety over AI continues to grow. A July Fox News poll found that 70% of registered voters opposed construction of AI data centers in their communities, compared with 30% who supported them. An April Fox News poll found that 63% of voters believed AI hurts privacy, while 56% said it hurts U.S. job creation. Just 21% said the technology helps job creation.
The debate has also divided Republicans as data centers become a more prominent midterm issue. Several Republican candidates have called for limits or pauses on new projects despite President Donald Trump’s support for expanding data-center development. Trump has emphasized rapid AI development and maintaining the United States’ competitive position against China. His administration unveiled its first national AI policy framework in March, calling for a consistent national standard while addressing issues including free speech, child safety and energy costs. «The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor,» Trump said.
Amy Kremer, an RNC member and chairwoman of Humans First, told Fox News Digital that she agreed policymakers need to recognize both AI’s benefits and risks, but pushed back on turning greater authority over to the federal government or technology companies. «You don’t have to agree on politics to recognize reality: AI is moving incredibly fast, and policymakers need to understand both the opportunities and the very real risks that come with it,» Kremer said. «Where I likely disagree with President Obama is on what government should do about it. The answer isn’t handing Washington bureaucrats more control, and it certainly isn’t allowing Big Tech to write the rules that govern itself.» She added that guardrails should protect children, workers and national security while ensuring China does not win the AI race.
Concerns about AI accelerated again when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for slowing the development race, warning that advances could outpace humans’ ability to understand and control the systems. Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman subsequently expressed support for Amodei’s call.