Amy Kremer, a key organizer of the January 6, 2021, rally near the White House, is now directing her activism towards reining in AI companies. Kremer, who maintains the 2020 election was stolen, sees a similar danger in the rise of artificial intelligence as she did in the populist anger that fueled her past actions. She describes Silicon Valley elites as out of touch, controlling a technology without sufficient safeguards.
As chair of Humans First, a conservative advocacy group, Kremer aims to channel conservative populist energy against AI laboratories and the tech executives who have cultivated relationships with former President Donald Trump. Her group announced plans for anti-data center rallies across five states on July 18, evoking the spirit of the Tea Party movement.
Public sentiment towards AI technology has grown wary. Concerns include potential job losses and the construction of energy-intensive data centers in local communities. These anxieties span the political spectrum, uniting figures from Senator Bernie Sanders’ supporters to former Tea Party activists like Kremer.
Brad Carson, a former Democratic congressman leading Americans for Responsible Innovation, noted the unusual alliance forming around AI regulation. He likened it to the French resistance during World War II, where individuals with opposing ideologies united against a common threat. Carson stated, “AI safety is the same. Left and right can fight about the future once we’ve made sure there is one.”
The growing opposition to AI presents a challenge for Donald Trump, potentially creating a division within his political coalition. This sentiment also impacts the wealthy Silicon Valley figures who influenced his administration’s largely hands-off approach to technology oversight. The emerging bipartisan concern suggests a shift in how AI’s development and deployment might be viewed and regulated in the future.
The extent to which this cross-ideological movement can influence policy remains uncertain. Future developments will likely depend on the sustained momentum of groups like Humans First and Americans for Responsible Innovation, as well as the responses from tech companies and political leaders. The upcoming anti-data center rallies will serve as an early indicator of the movement’s organizational capacity and public appeal.