Lawmaker at Senate HELP hearing warns AI could surpass humans, urges technology to benefit all

A lawmaker at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions warned that artificial intelligence presents both promise and grave risk, telling the committee "it's only a question of time before AI becomes smarter than humans." The speaker said losing human control over AI could lead to unknown consequences and that policymakers should not "wait around to see what will happen."

The lawmaker said they have consulted "some leading scientists in the world" who described AI as "extremely dangerous," and urged that the technology "must be used to benefit all of humanity, not make a handful of multibillionaires even richer." The speaker acknowledged current benefits in clinical settings, saying AI shows "very positive" uses in health care, but emphasized the need for oversight and planning rather than complacency. The transcript did not record any formal motion, vote, or specific legislative proposal tied to the remarks, and no next procedural steps were specified in the provided segment.