WATCH LIVE: OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman testifies on AI competition in Senate hearing
PBS NewsHourMAY 5
Altman Urges Congress to Avoid AI Overregulation
Above: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on May 08, 2025. Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As Sam Altman argued during his congressional hearing, the U.S. must move quickly to streamline permitting, expand infrastructure, and avoid burdensome regulations that could stifle innovation. European-style AI rules would be disastrous for American competitiveness, while a "light-touch" framework would allow U.S. companies to maintain their technological edge and ensure Western democratic values prevail in the development of artificial intelligence.
Establishment-critical narrative
AI leaders like Sam Altman now push for federal support — expanded grids, data access, and deregulation — while sidestepping questions about real-world impacts. Their shift from promoting oversight to demanding unchecked growth prioritizes dominance over harms like degraded literacy, privacy risks, and social disconnection. It's a power grab disguised as progress, where public resources fuel private empires under the banner of innovation.