A recent New York Times/Siena poll found that less than 1 percent of voters view artificial intelligence as a top priority this election cycle. But is that really the case? Will Lawrence, a progressive congressional candidate in Michigan, is betting his campaign on the opposite. The co-founder of the environmental group Sunrise Movement has pivoted from climate and housing activism to taking on Big Tech.
Vox’s Astead Herndon talks with Lawrence about how AI fits into the wider progressive movement, and whether panic over the rapidly advancing technology represents something deeper about who will ultimately control the future of the US economy.
00:00 Why AI panic is spreading
02:41 From activist to congressional candidate
04:47 Why AI became a campaign issue
05:53 The backlash against data centers
07:42 Should America hit pause on AI?
09:05 Is AI a bubble or a revolution?
10:13 The fight over AI surveillance
11:52 What happens if AI replaces jobs?
15:35 How the Progressive Movement changed
19:50 Why Trump won Michigan
20:29 Lawrence responds to controversial remarks
23:07 Can AI become a bipartisan issue?
23:49 Is AI really the crisis of our time?
26:16 Takeaways
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