Sen. Josh Hawley Raises Concerns Over AI’s Societal Impact

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) could exacerbate significant inequality and fundamentally alter our society. He described AI as a critical test of America’s foundational “moral vows,” suggesting it could reduce humans to mere “raw materials” and put children at risk.

“Artificial intelligence is testing our commitment to the great moral contract that binds us as a nation,” Hawley said, referencing an editorial he wrote for First Things titled “The American Code’s Answer to AI.”

He went on to discuss the ethical challenges posed by AI, stating, “The decisions we soon face regarding this powerful technology are among the toughest we’ve encountered.” Hawley emphasized these decisions extend beyond economics and policy—they’re about our values surrounding work, family, liberty, and human life, touching on our identity as Americans.

“We don’t need to imagine the risks,” he asserted, introducing his view of a “K-shaped” society, which he believes AI will help create. “We’re seeing a few companies acquiring capital, information, and political influence at an unprecedented scale,” he explained.

In this analogy, the upper arm of the “K” represents AI’s developers, executives, and investors, while the lower arm consists of blue-collar workers and professionals, including new graduates.

Hawley observed, “This country is becoming defined by two branches of a single letter. The upper arm thrives, while the lower arm is quietly displaced, which makes the loss of wages even harder to bear.”

In concluding his piece, he touched upon a deeper moral choice, writing, “At the heart of these challenges lies the vision that inspired our national experiment: the Covenant on the Arbera River.” He further argued that resisting this K-shaped economy and the pressures of soft technology is rooted in principles older than our nation, which will endure beyond any technological advancement.

“We will not be mere materials for machine makers; we are human beings, made in God’s image,” he declared. Hawley urged action for the betterment of the nation, families, children, and workers, stating, “We will steer the direction of this technology towards our collective well-being.”

“We will not relinquish our principles to technology,” he affirmed, asserting that technology must conform to our values.