Obama privately sounds alarm on ‘dangerous’ AI, urges Democrats to put issue at center of agenda

Former President Barack Obama urged Democrats during a private fundraiser in New York City on Thursday to place artificial intelligence near the center of their political agenda ahead of the midterms and 2028 presidential race while warning that the technology could become dangerous without greater oversight as voters increasingly raise concerns about jobs, privacy and data centers.

Obama, speaking alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y., warned party donors and lawmakers that policymakers risk losing control of an industry developing largely in private hands, The New York Times reported .

"This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don’t get on top of it, I think can be dangerous," Obama said.

"If we do get on top of it, I do think it’s beneficial.

I genuinely think it’s going to accelerate, for example, drug development in ways that can help us cure diseases.

I do think that this can help us figure out pathways for a clean energy future." RNC member and Humans First Chairwoman Amy Kremer told Fox News Digital on Sunday that she agreed policymakers need to recognize both AI’s benefits and risks , but pushed back on turning greater authority over to the federal government or technology companies.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SEE AI REGULATION AS URGENT, RANK SAFEGUARDS AHEAD OF INNOVATION "You don't have to agree on politics to recognize reality: AI is moving incredibly fast, and policymakers need to understand both the opportunities and the very real risks that come with it," Kremer told Fox News Digital .

"Where I likely disagree with President Obama is on what government should do about it.

The answer isn't handing Washington bureaucrats more control, and it certainly isn't allowing Big Tech to write the rules that govern itself." "We need guardrails that protect Americans while allowing American innovation to lead the world.

That means protecting children, workers and our national security, while making sure China doesn't win the AI race," she continued.

Obama's warning comes as Fox News Digital polling found substantial voter resistance to the infrastructure powering the AI boom.

A July Fox News poll found 70% of registered voters opposed construction of AI data centers in their communities, compared with 30% who supported them.

MAGA BEGINS TO CRACK AS 2026 GOP ROSTER BACKS AWAY FROM TRUMP'S TECH VISION The debate has also divided Republicans as data centers become a more prominent midterm issue.

Several Republican candidates have called for limits or pauses on new projects despite President Donald Trump's support for expanding data-center development.