Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has put forward a comprehensive plan aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) companies to address mounting public concerns over the technology’s risks. His proposals, collectively termed "AI Under Democracy," seek to balance innovation with public safety amid growing anxiety about AI’s potential impact.
El-Sayed, a physician turned politician, announced the initial plan several weeks before the Michigan Democratic primary earlier this year, positioning himself as an advocate for stronger AI oversight. The idea gained traction amid polls showing widespread apprehension among Americans: a recent NBC News survey found that 70% of respondents expressed more worry than excitement about AI, while a Quinnipiac poll indicated that 73% fear AI could threaten human existence.
Central to El-Sayed’s proposal is the notion that dominant technology corporations hold excessive control over emerging AI ventures, creating conflicts between profit motives and societal well-being. He highlights that companies such as Microsoft and Google hold significant stakes in AI startups like OpenAI and Anthropic—Microsoft owns approximately 27% of OpenAI, and Google holds 14% of Anthropic—thereby influencing the direction of AI development. El-Sayed calls for these tech giants to divest their interests within a defined transition period to reduce concentrated influence.
In addition to corporate divestment, El-Sayed proposes tighter regulations on data centers, which power AI operations. His plan includes measures to slow down AI development rates, promote local job creation, freeze residential utility costs, and mitigate the environmental and public health impacts caused by data center infrastructure. He has specifically criticized plans for a large OpenAI-Oracle data center near Ann Arbor, Michigan, where El-Sayed attended the University of Michigan. Public opinion aligns with this cautious approach; an August poll found only about 11% of Americans support data center construction in their communities.
Perhaps the most contentious aspect of El-Sayed’s plan is the call for public control over AI companies. He proposes that a simple majority of board seats in influential AI firms be publicly appointed or democratically elected. This would enable greater transparency, accountability, and the power for citizens to block decisions that could jeopardize public interest, including developments related to data centers or potential biological weapons applications. While some conservatives criticize this as an overreach and liken it to socialism, proponents note that public ownership models already exist for essential utilities such as water and electricity. A separate June poll found that 69% of Americans support transferring half of AI companies’ stock to public sovereign wealth funds dedicated to serving community interests.
El-Sayed’s stance contrasts sharply with that of former President Donald Trump and some White House officials, who have dismissed calls to slow AI progress as unnecessary alarmism, emphasizing U.S. dominance in the technology race. Meanwhile, some AI leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have advocated for a cautious approach to AI development, acknowledging the need to "pace the frontier."
As the U.S. approaches midterm elections marked by rising public unease about AI, El-Sayed’s proposals highlight the growing demand for federal policies that address both the opportunities and hazards of AI. His background in healthcare informs his guiding principle for AI regulation, adapted from the Hippocratic oath: “first, do no harm.” The question remains whether this approach will gain broader bipartisan support or face resistance amid the country’s ideological divides on technology and regulation.