Politicians and public officials

Michael Bennet

U.S. senator from Colorado

3 records

Portrait source: Senators Mike Bennett & Jon Ossoff, Public domain

Records

But unlike fire, this technology can improve itself, and it has the potential to move faster and transform more than any innovation in our history, for better or for worse.

Michael Bennet

U.S. senator from Colorado

On the Senate floor in 2023, Michael Bennet said AI could improve itself and had the potential to move faster and transform more than any previous innovation, for better or worse.

U.S. Senator from ColoradoJune 21, 2023Congressional Record, U.S. Senate floor, Digital Platforms

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Context and checks

Surrounding words

This is what everybody around here is talking about, what some would call the most consequential technology for humanity since the invention of fire. But unlike fire, this technology can improve itself, and it has the potential to move faster and transform more than any innovation in our history, for better or for worse. Even in its early days, generative AI has already demonstrated the power to write the code to animate and even compose in ways that would have been absolutely unimaginable 20 years ago or 10 years ago, to say nothing of when we

What this quote does not say

The statement asserts potential rather than likelihood and expressly allows beneficial as well as harmful outcomes.
The passage does not specify whether 'improve itself' means autonomous recursive self-improvement, AI-assisted development, or a broader adaptive capability.

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President Trump’s executive order to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence is a dangerous overreach of power that will only make it more difficult to keep our communities safe while promoting innovation. While AI has enormous potential to increase productivity and grow our economy, this unilateral action weakens Colorado’s ability to protect children and consumers.

Michael Bennet

U.S. senator from Colorado

In a statement published in 2025, Michael Bennet said AI could increase productivity and economic growth while opposing an executive order that blocked state AI laws.

Colorado U.S. SenatorPublished December 16, 2025 · date of remarks not establishedOfficial statement on an executive order restricting state AI laws

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Surrounding words

Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order restricting current and future state laws regulating the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. “President Trump’s executive order to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence is a dangerous overreach of power that will only make it more difficult to keep our communities safe while promoting innovation. While AI has enormous potential to increase productivity and grow our economy, this unilateral action weakens Colorado’s ability to protect children and consumers. Congress can and must pass bipartisan legislation that supports AI development while protecting the American people.

What this quote does not say

This is not a retraction or contradiction of the 2023 risk statement; it qualifies Bennet's policy posture by balancing protection, innovation, development, and economic growth.
The statement addresses state regulatory authority rather than catastrophic or existential AI risk.

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Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

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AI systems should undergo regular public risk assessments to examine their safety, reliability, security, explainability, and efficacy. We should couple these assessments with transparency and disclosure obligations to enable effective compliance audits.

Michael Bennet

U.S. senator from Colorado

In a letter published in 2023, Michael Bennet called for regular public risk assessments of AI systems and transparency and disclosure rules enabling compliance audits.

Colorado U.S. SenatorPublished September 13, 2023 · date of remarks not establishedLetter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer on AI principles and requirements

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Surrounding words

A regulatory architecture premised on these principles will preserve cutting-edge innovation without abandoning the foundational ideals that underpin our democratic society. Public Risk Assessments, Mitigation, and Audits. AI systems should undergo regular public risk assessments to examine their safety, reliability, security, explainability, and efficacy. We should couple these assessments with transparency and disclosure obligations to enable effective compliance audits. AI system risk assessment requirements should apply throughout the AI lifecycle, from the development stage through the post-market period, and should be conducted in an ongoing manner by AI system end-users.

What this quote does not say

The passage does not specify who would conduct public assessments, how often they would occur, or what risk threshold would trigger restrictions.
The same letter says AI's rapid development is a testament to American innovation, welcomes its potential benefits, and says regulation should preserve cutting-edge innovation.

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Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

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