Some of America’s biggest ideological enemies just signed the same AI declaration, and the reason they all agreed reveals how alarmed they are

A large and unusual group of people, who normally disagree on almost everything, have come together to sign the “Pro-Human AI Declaration.” The document calls for human values to remain central as artificial intelligence continues to grow rapidly. The group includes political opponents, business leaders, academics, and religious figures.

The names on the list are striking. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, conservative commentator Glenn Beck, and billionaire Richard Branson signed the same document as consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Biden national security adviser Susan Rice, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu. The one thing they all agree on is that humans need to stay in control of AI.

According to NBC News, the declaration was released and has the backing of more than 40 organizations. It describes two possible futures. One is a “race to replace,” where AI takes over roles like creators, counselors, caregivers, and companions, concentrating enormous power in the hands of a few institutions and their machines.

This rare cross-political agreement signals a shared fear that AI could strip power away from ordinary people

The declaration also points to what it calls a “better path,” where trustworthy and controllable AI tools enhance human potential, protect individual liberty, strengthen families and communities, preserve self-governance, and support health and prosperity.

The drafting process involved organizations from across the political spectrum, including the Congress of Christian Leaders, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Progressive Democrats of America. This is not the first time opposing political sides have found common ground on AI, MAGA figures and progressive activists secretly uniting over AI concerns showed just how deep these shared fears run.

The Future of Life Institute facilitated the process, which included multiple meetings and a ratification gathering in New Orleans in January. The declaration covers five major topics, including “Keeping Humans in Charge” and “Responsibility and Accountability for AI Companies.” Under the section “Avoiding Concentration of Power,” it calls for “No AI Monopolies,” “Democratic Authority Over Major Transitions,” and “Shared Prosperity.” AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio also signed the declaration.

Joe Allen, a senior fellow at Humans First, a nonpartisan AI-focused advocacy group, described the declaration as “the product of painstaking consensus.” He said it brought together people ranging from “reasonable techno-optimists” to “quasi-Luddites,” adding that every human being, even ideological opponents, deserves a say in technology that could be fundamentally anti-human.

Brendan Steinhauser, director of the Alliance for Secure AI, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, said that “Big Tech is racing to create AI smarter than humans,” and stressed that humanity must stay in control.

Concerns about unchecked AI are growing beyond just job losses, AI facial recognition wrongly targeting innocent people is one example of how the technology can cause real harm when left without proper oversight. He argued that if AI is to truly benefit all of humanity, and not just CEOs in Silicon Valley, then everyone needs to come together to protect our collective future.