A new grassroots coalition is bridging the political divide to demand democratic control over AI development, but immediately faces backlash from Silicon Valley giants, signaling a pivotal battle for the soul of artificial intelligence.
In a musty auditorium in Manhattan, a diverse crowd of about 75 New Yorkers—from MAGA conservatives to progressive environmentalists—gathered to confront a shared anxiety: the concentrated wealth and power steering AI development. Jeremy Ornstein, an organizer, opened with a stark warning: “Billionaires will lay their claim to AI and say it shouldn’t be in public control, and tyrants will lay their claim to AI and deny our fundamental freedoms.”
This meeting, hosted by Humans First at St. Michael’s Church, is part of a nascent nationwide movement aiming to give voice to Americans wary of the fast-moving AI industry. The group’s current flagship campaign focuses on getting politicians to reject financial contributions from major AI companies and their venture capital backers, framing AI as a democratic issue rather than a purely technological one.
Humans First presents itself as nonpartisan, with members spanning the political spectrum. Ornstein was a key organizer for the anti-Trump Sunrise Movement from 2018 to 2022, while Alexander McCoy, leader of the liberal coalitions, is a former Marine and climate advocate who worked on Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. On the conservative side, Amy Kremer, director of conservative coalitions for Humans First, co-founded Women for Trump and led grassroots organizing for the Republican National Committee. Senior fellow Joe Allen has reported on AI with Steve Bannon on the “War Room” podcast.
The Backlash: Tech Elites Strike Back
Within hours of the New York event, the movement drew intense scrutiny from the highest echelons of the AI world. David Sacks, the White House AI czar and a prominent venture capitalist, shared an unvarnished critique of Humans First on X, calling the group “a censorship power play.” His post was viewed over 21 million times. Elon Musk, founder of xAI, quickly echoed Sacks’ sentiment, labeling the critique “troubling.” Musk’s company is racing to develop AI systems that could surpass human capabilities, heightening the stakes of this public relations clash.
The critique, authored by conservative writer Jordan Schachtel, alleged that Humans First is a Trojan horse orchestrated by the Effective Altruism movement—a social movement focused on evidence-based causes—to make AI safety palatable to conservatives. Schachtel pointed to the Center for AI Safety (CAIS), which incubated Humans First with an initial loan, as the behind-the-scenes driver, claiming it specifically recruited Allen to bolster conservative credentials.
Denials and Counterarguments
Allen vocally rejected these claims, stating on X that he “has not been head-hunted and stooged” and that Schachtel’s post “raises questions about shadowy influence operations” for its disbelief in cross-partisan unity on AI. CAIS also distanced itself, writing that “the less influence [Effective Altruism] has on AI safety, the better.” Ornstein confirmed the incubation but framed it as a temporary loan, emphasizing that Humans First is building a self-sustaining movement to “hold the big AI companies accountable and put more of the benefits and control of AI in the hands of the public.”
This clash reveals a deeper ideological war over AI regulation. Sacks and Musk represent a tech-centric, libertarian-leaning view that fears regulatory overreach and “censorship,” while Humans First argues that unchecked corporate power poses a greater threat to democracy. The fact that a small grassroots event could trigger responses from such powerful figures underscores how any challenge to AI orthodoxy is now met with swift counterattack.
Why This Bipartisan Coalition Matters
Historically, tech regulation debates have often split along predictable lines: progressives demanding oversight, conservatives opposing government intervention. Here, the alliance is reversed on both sides. Some conservatives, like Kremer, are aligning with traditional left-wing concerns about corporate power, while progressives like McCoy are embracing a “fight it out on other issues not under the tyranny of Skynet” mentality, referencing the Terminator’s malevolent AI.
This unity is significant because it disrupts the narrative that AI skepticism is a partisan issue. It also highlights a growing public sentiment that AI development is being captured by a small elite—whether in Silicon Valley or Washington—without sufficient democratic input. The movement’s focus on “big AI money” taps into broader frustrations with corporate influence in politics, echoing past movements like anti-globalization protests or the fight for net neutrality, where diverse groups coalesced around concerns of corporate overreach.
- Cross-partisan appeal: By framing AI control as a democratic issue, Humans First attracts both left-wing anti-corporatists and right-wing populists skeptical of elite consensus.
- Grassroots momentum: Small gatherings like the New York event signal a bottom-up demand for AI governance, contrasting with top-down tech industry lobbying.
- Elite backlash: The rapid response from Sacks and Musk shows that even nascent movements are perceived as threats to the established AI power structure.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
Humans First faces formidable obstacles. Its reliance on initial funding from CAIS, linked to Effective Altruism, provides ammunition for critics like Schachtel to question its authenticity. Building a sustainable cross-partisan movement is notoriously difficult, as underlying ideological differences on other issues could fracture the coalition. Moreover, the group’s call to reject AI company contributions challenges politicians who rely on tech industry funding—a tough sell in a system where campaign finance dominates.
Yet the movement taps into a genuine public unease. Attendees at the New York event included engineers worried about human creativity and neighbors concerned about electricity costs from data centers. “I’m torn because AI taught me a lot… but at the same time, I see the dangers,” said Victoria Flack, a middle school teacher. This ambivalence reflects a national mood: AI’s benefits are clear, but its governance feels undemocratic and precarious.
The involvement of figures like Musk and Sacks ensures this debate will intensify. As AI systems grow more powerful, battles over who controls them—billionaires, governments, or the public—will define the decade. Humans First’s attempt to mobilize a people’s movement is a direct challenge to the Silicon Valley model of move-fast-and-break-things. Whether it gains traction or gets co-opted remains open, but it has already forced the most powerful players to respond.
For now, the auditorium in New York ended with animated discussions, a microcosm of a larger conversation the nation can no longer avoid. The fusion of MAGA and progressive energy on AI is not just a curiosity; it is a signal that the fight for AI’s soul is everyone’s fight.
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