As of 8:42 PM on November 5, 2026—at least from where I sit in Japan—it appears all but certain that the Democratic Party is on track for a historic victory in the U.S. midterm elections 2026, far exceeding expectations.
From my perspective as a foreigner (relative to the U.S.), one aspect of the Democratic platform that concerns me is the call to halt or curb the development of “SI” (or AI).
For the Democrats, this position served as a crucial campaign strategy. Given President Trump’s intense focus on advancing “SI” to secure American interests and hegemony, the Democrats leveraged the idea of curbing AI development to appeal to voters anxious about their future employment—specifically those in jobs widely predicted to be taken over by AI (though, ironically, that very prediction itself comes from an AI).
Of course, the abuse of “AI power”—such as the destruction or pollution of local environments through the construction of AI data centers, or the proliferation of surveillance cameras throughout our cities—is undesirable. I, for one, would not want to live in such a society.
On the other hand, the advancement of AI could also empower the “vulnerable” in society to challenge the “powerful.” It could give rise to a world where those previously disadvantaged by a lack of resources can take up a sword sharpened by AI—enabling them to go toe-to-toe with, or even gain the upper hand against, the “powerful” forces in society. This is the potential I find most significant.
Furthermore, from an international standpoint, if the United States and Europe were to curb AI development, it would be a major victory for China. Given the current state of affairs, it is impossible for Japan to counter China’s AI development on its own. Given that the nature of future warfare may hinge on AI capabilities, it poses a significant risk for Western nations to fall behind in AI development.
As for the negative aspects arising from the advancement of AI, I believe it is preferable to address them through targeted, specific policies.
