Union leaders

Randi Weingarten

president of the American Federation of Teachers

4 records

Records

“The pace of the AI revolution has been blisteringly fast, and kids and parents are getting burned. Right now, our students are drowning in tech, and predatory ‘social companion chatbots’ are exploiting isolation and loneliness to foster toxic virtual relationships. Relationships are a deeply human endeavor; there is simply no algorithm for real trust or empathy.

Exact quote, beginning

Randi Weingarten

president of the American Federation of Teachers

In a 2026 House press release, Randi Weingarten endorsed the People-First Chatbot Act and said it would require safeguards against manipulative design, compulsive use and harvesting children's private data.

President, American Federation of TeachersPublished July 9, 2026 · date of remarks not establishedOfficial House-office press release announcing the People-First Chatbot Act

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Surrounding words

Congress must act quickly to give users — especially children — real protection, and a real remedy when AI chatbots and Big Tech fail to meet these standards.” “The pace of the AI revolution has been blisteringly fast, and kids and parents are getting burned. Right now, our students are drowning in tech, and predatory ‘social companion chatbots’ are exploiting isolation and loneliness to foster toxic virtual relationships. Relationships are a deeply human endeavor; there is simply no algorithm for real trust or empathy. The People-First Chatbot Act builds on the protections in the GUARD Act and establishes the enforceable guardrails we desperately need. By forcing companies to dismantle manipulative design features, requiring strict safety checks for compulsive usage and banning the harvesting of kids’ private data, this bill draws a clear line in the sand,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). “The People-First Chatbot Act is the guardrail this moment demands.

What this quote does not say

The primary is the sponsoring legislator's official office page rather than an AFT page.
The page does not state whether Weingarten personally reviewed the final posted punctuation or when she supplied the quote.

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

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But before we turn to solutions, we need to talk about artificial intelligence. We are at a crossroads that will define the future of work and society. Without proper oversight and strong guardrails, there will be real dangers to our safety and privacy, to the climate and the very fabric of society.

Randi Weingarten

president of the American Federation of Teachers

In a 2026 National Press Club speech, Randi Weingarten said AI would pose dangers to safety, privacy, the climate and society without oversight and guardrails.

President, American Federation of TeachersMay 27, 2026Devices down, eyes up, hands-on address, National Press Club

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Surrounding words

They are so accustomed to the immediate rewards they get online that they find schoolwork comparatively boring. Fortunately, that’s a problem we can deal with. But before we turn to solutions, we need to talk about artificial intelligence. We are at a crossroads that will define the future of work and society. Without proper oversight and strong guardrails, there will be real dangers to our safety and privacy, to the climate and the very fabric of society. One thing the AI revolution does not change is the essential purpose of education: teaching students how to think, how to connect, and giving them enough knowledge to do both well.

What this quote does not say

The passage predicts broad categories of danger but does not specify mechanisms, magnitudes, or probabilities.
Later in the same speech, Weingarten said she was not calling for an AI ban, described AI as here to stay, and called for balancing its benefits against its harms.

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

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I am not calling for an AI ban or a Chromebook bonfire. I’m advocating to get the balance right to harness the benefits of technology and mitigate the harms. AI is here to stay. We need enforceable guardrails. We need help to cushion the disruption to people’s lives. And educators and parents must understand AI and have a say in its use in education.

Randi Weingarten

president of the American Federation of Teachers

In a 2026 column, Randi Weingarten wrote that she was not calling for an AI ban and called for enforceable guardrails and a say for educators and parents in schools.

President, American Federation of TeachersPublished June 21, 2026 · date of remarks not establishedWhat Matters Most column, Devices-down, eyes-up, hands-on learning

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Parents have expressed support and appreciation. Teachers union leaders plan to use the plan in contract negotiations. And some school districts have invoked it as a rationale for change. I am not calling for an AI ban or a Chromebook bonfire. I’m advocating to get the balance right to harness the benefits of technology and mitigate the harms. AI is here to stay. We need enforceable guardrails. We need help to cushion the disruption to people’s lives. And educators and parents must understand AI and have a say in its use in education. That’s why the AFT created the National Academy for AI Instruction last year, to help teachers master AI so it doesn’t master them, and to guide their students to safely navigate the digital world.

What this quote does not say

This narrows the policy remedy but does not retract her underlying risk claims.
The statement is education-centered and does not clarify her position on pausing or prohibiting superintelligence specifically.

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

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Statements they signed

FROM THE SIGNED STATEMENT

Like drugs, chatbots must undergo pre-deployment testing for increased suicidal ideation, exacerbation of mental health disorders, escalation of acute crisis situations, and other known harms.

Signed statement: “Pro-Human AI Declaration” (FLI/broad coalition)

Randi Weingarten

president of the American Federation of Teachers

Signed as part of a group statement. Not spoken.

Randi Weingarten was listed as a signer of the Pro-Human AI Declaration, which says AI should serve humanity and remain under human control.

President, American Federation of TeachersDate not establishedPro-Human AI Declaration

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Moore, PhD President, The Congress of Christian Leaders Margarita Louis Dreyfus Human Change Foundation, Owner and chair of the Louis Dreyfus Company group, founder of Human Change Foundation Sir Richard Branson Founder, Virgin Group Randi Weingarten President, American Federation of Teachers Julianna Arnold Founding Member and Executive Director, Parents RISE!

What this quote does not say

The page labels the section 'Individual endorsers'; the public endorsement process is live and its verification is undisclosed.
Roster observed 2026-08-19; signing date unknown.

How this was checked

The organiser's own roster lists this person as a signer.

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an AI reviewer that read the whole source