AI Safety Advocates Enter Minnesota Senate Race
In a surprising turn, some figures from the Silicon Valley AI safety movement, often termed “doomers,” have started contributing significantly to the campaign of Democrat Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota’s US Senate race. Flanagan, who has the endorsement of Bernie Sanders, has expressed strong concerns about AI, labeling it an “existential threat” to humanity.
Flanagan, who currently serves as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, is competing against Republican candidate Michelle Tafoya to claim the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. The race is currently considered a toss-up by RealClearPolitics, and its outcome could influence which party secures a narrow majority in the Senate, especially as both sides grapple with how to regulate the booming AI industry.
Flanagan, aligned with far-left ideologies and supported by prominent figures like Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, reportedly received over $41,000 in donations from various individuals within the AI sector between mid-July and early August, as revealed by campaign finance records.
Local Republican officials argue that a victory for Flanagan, who voiced her serious concerns about the dangers of AI in a recent interview, might hinder technological innovation with stricter regulations. Sanders, for instance, has called for a moratorium on advanced AI development.
“Peggy Flanagan represents a socialist agenda that could stifle innovation and, ultimately, empower China by advocating for excessive government regulations on AI,” stated Nick Puglia, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Throughout her campaign, Flanagan has openly criticized the tech industry. Last summer, she made headlines by accusing a super PAC backing her centrist opponent of using a deepfake video of her to misinform voters.
In an interview, she expressed her worries about the rapid advancement of AI, claiming it’s outpacing the legislative process, indicating her push for rigorous regulation. During a primary debate in July, she called AI a potential “existential threat” if it spirals out of control. That same month, she joined Sanders and Warren at campaign events in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Her campaign touts endorsements from progressive Democratic members like Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Pramila Jayapal, all known for their association with the party’s progressive wing.
A spokesperson for Flanagan stated that it’s imperative for Congress to take immediate action regarding AI. The campaign believes we need mandatory safety testing, robust enforcement from regulators, and accountability when AI systems fail, highlighting that product liability exists for other sectors and should apply here as well.
Flanagan has also suggested a potential pause on advanced AI development, cautioning that ignoring the risks could lead to disastrous outcomes.
Financial Backing from the AI Sector
Among the AI professionals who supported Flanagan, eight hail from Anthropic, a company whose CEO has frequently warned about the existential risks posed by AI. Notable donors include William Saunders, a former OpenAI employee, who departed the company out of concern for its direction, and Jan Leike, a former head of OpenAI’s alignment team, who left citing safety issues being overlooked.
This wave of donations suggests that AI researchers focused on safety are beginning to engage more politically, transitioning from merely supporting super PACs to more direct involvement in campaigns, according to a Republican strategist who wished to remain anonymous.
Recent donations include contributions from Anthropic staffers Steven Bills and Daniel Ziegler, who collectively gave $14,000, along with a $4,500 donation from Evan Hubinger, who has publicly highlighted the risks associated with advanced AI development.
Saunders also donated $3,500 to Flanagan, with two other Anthropic employees matching that amount on the same day. Leike did the same shortly after, showcasing the level of financial support from the AI sector behind Flanagan.
Additional noteworthy contributions came from Jibran Jahshan, a software engineer at Nvidia, who donated $1,000. Jahshan has been generous toward other candidates advocating for strong AI regulations, like Representative Ro Khanna, who supports a ban on developing artificial superintelligence.
Dylan Mavrides from Jane Street, associated with the Effective Altruism movement, also contributed $3,500 to Flanagan’s campaign, indicating a broader trend among individuals in the AI community to financially back candidates advocating for stricter regulations.
Several donors signed an open letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, outlining potential “extreme AI risks” and urging support for a Senate bill aimed at regulating AI, which ultimately was vetoed.
