White House Advisor Warns AI Could Become a Tool of Control
The White House’s special representative for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, David Sacks, has cautioned that AI’s greatest danger lies not in rebellion but in its potential to become a mechanism of surveillance and societal control.
“Not a Terminator threat — a digital dystopia”
Speaking on a16z’s “The Ben & Marc Show” podcast, Sacks described his concerns that unchecked AI development could pave the way for governments and corporations to monitor citizens, manipulate narratives, and suppress dissent under the guise of safety.
“The real risk is not killer robots,” Sacks said. “It’s a future where AI monitors everything you do, decides what information you see, and quietly controls your behavior. That’s the nightmare we must prevent.”
A shift in US AI and crypto policy
Sacks outlined the Trump administration’s strategy to regulate AI and cryptocurrencies through what he called a “freedom-first” approach — balancing innovation with individual rights. He emphasized that Washington seeks to avoid over-regulation while protecting citizens from state-level surveillance and corporate data monopolies.
According to Sacks, one of the administration’s priorities is promoting open-source AI models and decentralized digital-asset infrastructures that make it harder for single entities to control data flows.
Criticism of prior policies
The advisor sharply criticized the previous Biden administration and several “blue states” — including California and Colorado — for implementing strict AI consumer-protection laws targeting “algorithmic discrimination.”
Sacks argued that while such regulations were well-intentioned, they risked stifling innovation and concentrating power in large tech firms that could afford compliance costs. “The old approach tried to control bias by controlling code,” he said. “We’re taking the opposite path: empower individuals, decentralize systems, and let transparency defeat abuse.”
AI regulation through the lens of freedom
The White House’s new stance reflects a broader ideological divide in Washington over how to govern emerging technologies. Advocates of the “freedom-tech” model see decentralization as the best safeguard against both corporate and governmental overreach.
Sacks noted that the same principles guiding cryptocurrency — transparency, open protocols, and verifiable code — should also apply to AI systems. “If we don’t anchor AI in freedom,” he warned, “we’ll end up with the most powerful surveillance architecture in history.”
The broader geopolitical picture
Experts view these comments as part of a growing global debate about the ethical limits of artificial intelligence. China’s rapid deployment of AI-driven social credit systems and Europe’s restrictive regulatory approach serve as opposing examples of what the US hopes to avoid.
Washington’s challenge, analysts say, is to maintain technological leadership while ensuring AI remains a tool for empowerment, not oppression.
Conclusion
David Sacks’s warning highlights an emerging paradigm: the real AI war may not be between humans and machines, but between freedom and control. As the White House shapes its next phase of tech policy, the question remains whether the United States can lead in innovation without sacrificing privacy and democratic values.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab