Bernie Sanders Faces Criticism Over AI Discussions with Chinese Scientists
The White House has raised concerns about China allegedly stealing AI technology on an industrial scale. In a recent statement, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders stirred up some controversy by advocating for “international cooperation” with Chinese scientists. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Homeland Security officials recovered 15 stolen agricultural drones designed for chemical spraying, which raises serious national security issues.
On Sunday, a far-left, pro-China group known as Code Pink released an Instagram video criticizing a proposed data center in Utah supported by investor Kevin O’Leary. According to a report acquired by Fox News Digital, this development wasn’t merely accidental.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute has documented what it describes as “foreign influence in the U.S. Campaign Against AI.” The report discusses three main sources of foreign influence aimed at halting the establishment of AI data centers in the U.S. This includes a nonprofit network supported by tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. expatriate in Shanghai who has shown support for Chinese propaganda. The report also mentions connections to foreign billionaires, including Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss and British financier Alan Parker.
Allegedly, nonprofits linked to Singham, like Code Pink, have been working for years to obstruct U.S. AI infrastructure and the expansion of data centers, often in sync with Chinese propaganda. Notably, in February 2017, Singham and Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans celebrated their wedding in Jamaica, and investigations suggest that Singham channeled $285 million to six nonprofits through various shell companies over several years. A spokesperson from Goldman Sachs noted that they “exited” from Singham’s donor-advised fund in early 2024.
Despite this, the organizations funded by Singham continue to act as mouthpieces for the Chinese Communist Party.
On March 25, as part of Singham’s campaign against American tech companies, Sanders, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, introduced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act. Just a few weeks later, Sanders hosted an event titled “The Existential Threat of AI” on Capitol Hill.
Interestingly, two of the panelists at this event were officials from the Chinese government: Zeng Yi, founding director of the Beijing AI Security Governance Institute, and Xue Lan, an advisor to the State Council of China and a leader in the National AI Governance Commission.
Requests for comments were made to Singham, Evans, Wyss, Parker, Sanders, and Ocasio-Cortez, but none responded, nor did the organizations cited in the report.
The report mentions how Xue used the Senate event to propose that the narrative around U.S.-China AI competition is misleading, advocating instead for a collaborative approach on AI governance—an idea often echoed in Chinese state media.
Sam Lyman, a director at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, emphasized the importance of prioritizing AI safety and American workers but cautioned against letting foreign geopolitical influences shape discussions on AI safety, especially from China, which aims to lead in the global tech competition.
The report asserts that the advocacy against data centers is not coincidental and points to a long-term foreign influence campaign aimed at American AI efforts. The report highlights that while Chinese state media expresses concerns about the dangers posed by data centers, China itself is investing heavily in developing its own AI infrastructure.
Significantly, the Singham Network is accused of spending years creating content that opposes U.S. AI infrastructure projects. Various instances of collaborative messaging among these organizations are noted.
In January 2026, Code Pink published an article condemning U.S. AI data centers, framing the issue as a conflict against “a new Cold War” with China. The report further references the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, linked to Singham, criticizing U.S. export controls on semiconductors.
On March 27, an article from the Tricontinental Institute criticized U.S. tech regulations as attempts to stifle China’s ascent. Coincidentally, new articles emerged from other Singham-affiliated outlets, suggesting coordinated messaging strategies.
As of May 1, another article emerged from Code Pink condemning the data center boom, adding to existing protests against these developments in the U.S. Various congressional committees are currently investigating if some nonprofit groups need to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act due to their funding sources and ties to Singham and the Chinese Communist Party.
The report claims that philanthropic entities associated with Wyss and Parker are investing significant funds into advocacy efforts aligned with AI projects in the U.S. It also mentions a coalition letter calling for a national moratorium on new AI data centers that garnered support from over 230 organizations, many funded by these networks.
The introduction of the Sanders-Ocasio-Cortez moratorium bill occurred just 107 days following the distribution of this coalition letter, showcasing a potential link to organized advocacy rather than grassroots movements.
Ultimately, the report underscores that the discussion around AI safety and empowering American workers should not be unduly influenced by foreign entities. It argues that the real issue at hand for U.S. policymakers is not a choice between AI and non-AI but rather between American and Chinese AI strategies.
By early Monday afternoon, Code Pink’s video opposing the Utah data center project had already received a significant amount of engagement, mainly from groups aligned with pro-China sentiments.
