JB Pritzker Sounds The Alarm on AI Spending, Big Tech Influence — Calls on Democrats, Republicans to ‘Reject the Influence’
Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) urged lawmakers from both parties to push back against the growing political influence of artificial intelligence companies and Big Tech, arguing that government decisions should prioritize public safety over corporate interests.
Pritzker Targets Big Tech Political Influence
On Wednesday, Pritzker made the call in a post on X, urging Democratic and Republican public officials to reject the influence of technology companies and their spending in American politics and elections.
"I’m calling on my fellow public servants – Democratic and Republican – to reject the influence of AI and Big Tech spending in our politics and elections," Pritzker wrote.
The Illinois governor said Americans should be able to trust that the federal government is acting in the public interest rather than responding to corporate financial interests.
"Americans deserve full confidence that our federal government focuses on their safety, not on companies’ profit margins," Pritzker said.
Rising AI Spending
Last week, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said AI spending across the hyperscaler ecosystem could reach $1 trillion in 2027, up from about $700 billion in 2026.
He said the spending could add to inflation initially but eventually have a deflationary impact.
McKinsey & Company warned that AI agent costs could vary by as much as 30 times, while 60% of surveyed organizations planned to increase AI spending. Companies explored using lower-cost models to reduce expenses.
Last month, “The Big Short” investor Michael Burry highlighted a Wall Street Journal report that said Big Tech had accumulated about $3 trillion in future AI spending that remained largely off balance sheets.
Growing AI Safety Concerns
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV warned about the potential risks of AI and criticized tech executives who opposed government restrictions, urging global leaders and AI experts to scrutinize its development.
Previously, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate an international agreement to pause advanced AI development and prohibit superintelligence, warning that AI could eventually operate beyond human control.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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