Mr. President, I have spent the last couple of years trying to learn as much as I can about artificial intelligence and its upside, and still long AI in terms of innovational brain. I think there are some real challenges. I have to acknowledge, I did witness this afternoon something that was a little bit surreal. The President had brought together some of the leading leaders in the AI industry. And in a closed, quiet room, I guess they reached some level of moral agreement--whatever that means-- that they are going to try to make sure things are safe.
2026 MidtermsLean SeatEVEN$12.1M raised
Mark Warner
Senator · Virginia · Democrat
Mark Warner
Senate Floor
Recent comments in the Senate
Madam President, I think most of us in this Chamber realize that we are literally living through one of the most consequential technology moments in our lifetime, and that is why I am here with several of my colleagues--Senator Schatz from Hawaii and Senator Kim from New Jersey--to say that we can't, frankly, have regular business at this moment. You know, before I got into politics, I was in the technology field. I was lucky enough to be on the ground floor of the wireless industry and then became a venture capitalist and was involved in iterations around the internet and cloud computing.
Madam President, in a moment, I am going to ask for a UC. I appreciate that the chairman of the Commerce Committee is here as it is in his jurisdiction, and he has been working on this issue. Congratulations on his legislative success last night. To address, kind of, a little bit of what Senator Kim just mentioned, we don't know. What we do know is that the ChatGPT model that has already been released and is out in service has literally had thousands of times where it has gone beyond what the model was supposed to have done. I completely don't think we can solve this State by State.
Biography
Mark Warner began his career as a successful business executive and technology investor before entering public service. Elected as U.S. Senator for Virginia in 2008, he has prioritized economic innovation, national security, and expanding broadband access. Warner played a leading role in crafting bipartisan cybersecurity legislation and serves as chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He is recognized for pragmatic problem-solving and works to ensure Virginia’s interests are represented with transparency and collaboration.
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School1980
- B.A. in Political Science, George Washington University1977
Professional History
U.S. Senator
2009–PresentSenator from Virginia. 3 terms.
Chair, National Governors Association
2004–2005Led the bipartisan association of U.S. governors while serving as governor of Virginia.
Governor of Virginia
2002–2006Served as the 69th governor of Virginia, with Tim Kaine as lieutenant governor.
Chair, Democratic Party of Virginia
1993–1995Led the state Democratic Party organization in Virginia.
Founder and Leader, Columbia Capital
Founded and led the telecommunications-focused venture capital firm Columbia Capital in the 1980s.
Co-founder, Capital Cellular Corporation
Co-founded Capital Cellular Corporation, a telecommunications company, before entering electoral politics.
Policy Focus
Health9%
Taxation7%
Finance and Financial Sector5%
Armed Forces and National Security4%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Mark Warner's record in Congress.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Helped negotiate and pass the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, securing funding for roads, broadband, and water systems.
COVID-19 Relief Funding
Secured billions in COVID-19 relief for Virginia hospitals, small businesses, and unemployment assistance through the CARES Act.
Intelligence Oversight
As Senate Intelligence Committee Chair, led bipartisan investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
Rural Broadband Expansion
Advanced federal investments to expand high-speed internet access in underserved rural Virginia communities.
Committee Assignments
View details →- Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceVice Chairman
- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
- Senate Committee on Finance
- Senate Committee on the Budget
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