House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that lawmakers need to take urgent action on the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI).\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly need to begin to act urgently to address the challenges that exist,” Jeffries said on ABC\u2019s \u201cThis Week with George Stephanopoulos.”<\/p>\n
“We should take decisive action now so that we can slow down, as the CEOs have recently acknowledged, slow down the pace of development in order to protect the American people and ensure that AI is proceeding safely,\u201d Jeffries added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jeffries\u2019 comments came after former Anthropic Researcher Jacob Coxon issued stark warnings on the future of AI development. Coxon said on an X thread<\/a>, \u201cThe people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol, September 3, 2026 in Washington.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Mariam Zuhaib\/AP Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n According to Jeffries, the Democratic caucus plans to meet on Tuesday and a \u201chigh priority will be action on artificial intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on Sunday, Jeffries dismissed President Trump\u2019s repeated promises to pay Americans $5,000 if Republicans win in November\u2019s high-stakes midterm elections.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn’t a serious proposal that was presented by Donald Trump. He’s broken every promise that he’s presented. Donald Trump promised to actually lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down. They’ve gone up,\u201d Jeffries said Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we win the midterms, we will, on the other hand, provide a, let’s call it Trump dividend, $5,000 for every adult citizen in our country,” Trump said Thursday<\/a> at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.<\/p>\n Jeffries also challenged other claims made by the Trump during the convention, including the president asking voters to \u201cpretend\u201d he is on ballot in November.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot,\u201d Trump said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. President, we don’t have to pretend. You are actually on the ballot. Your failed economy is on the ballot. The cost of living crisis is on the ballot. The fact that you’ve gotten us involved in a reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East that has skyrocketed gas prices, that’s on the ballot,\u201d Jeffries said on “This Week.”<\/p>\n Throughout the primary cycle, progressive Democrats have scored wins in key races, posing questions for the Democratic caucus looking to take control in November.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve taken some heat from progressives in the party, including from many who align with the Democratic Socialists. Are you confident that you’ll actually be speaker if the Democrats win? Stephanopoulos asked Jeffries.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we’re focused right now on taking back control of the House of Representatives. That is the only mission that’s important, so we can lower the high cost of living, lower the cost of gas, lower the cost of groceries, lower the cost of housing, certainly fight to make health care affordable for every single American and combat the unprecedented corruption that’s been unleashed on the American people and beginning on day one, hold the crooks accountable,” Jeffries said in response.<\/p>\n Stephanopoulos also pressed Jeffries on his late August meeting<\/a> with the president\u2019s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Jeffries defended the meeting, claiming that \u201cthere are going to be times that you have to speak with people on the other side of the aisle.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"artificial](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/f8cbc2ef-9743-4f79-bd65-7890b59face3\/jeffries-2-ap-gmh-260903_1788455053969_hpMain.jpg?w=375 "\\"artificial")
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