Illinois Governor JB Pritzker believes artificial intelligence could extend human life to a century or destroy it with the same force as nuclear weapons.
He is running for re-election in a state where early voting is already underway. The interview took place ahead of the midterms next month.
State versus tech giants
The governor addressed the tension between local governments and large corporations. He noted that big business often threatens to leave a state if regulations are not relaxed.
Pritzker cited the recent legal battle in California as a key example. Governor Gavin Newsom sued the Ellison family and Paramount over a Warner Brothers merger. Paramount threatened to move its operations to Nashville or Miami. The company eventually settled the lawsuit. The next day, the Ellison family stated they were from California and would never leave.
Pritzker sees a parallel here with the Chicago Bears. He noted that Illinois is currently in discussions with the NFL and the team to keep the franchise in Chicago or Arlington Heights. He described Illinois as a tough negotiator but acknowledged the broader political shift.
He argued that the government must stop acting merely as a collaborator with business. Instead, it needs to become a fighter for ordinary people. Pritzker, who was a businessman before taking office, said his job is to protect working people who have no one else to defend them.
Generational shift in politics
The governor described the change as both generational and attitudinal. He is 61 years old but considers himself part of the older generation of tech workers.
He believes the younger generation is more aggressive about progressive values. They want the government to stand up for people against technology that invades their homes and lives.
This shift applies to data centres, privacy, and antitrust regulation. Even figures from Silicon Valley like David Sacks now agree that major tech companies should not receive antitrust exemptions.
Pritzker stated that too much power is currently held by too few people. This concentration of power is dangerous, especially when dealing with AI.
Employment and unemployment
The governor warned that AI could cause a significant change in employment across the United States. He is not convinced that massive job losses are inevitable, but he believes the direction of travel is clear.
He suggested that society must be prepared to protect people who lose their jobs to this technology. Much of the economic benefit will go to a very small number of individuals.
Pritzker highlighted the risks of rising unemployment. If the current rate of 4 percent becomes the standard for near full employment, the figure could quickly rise to 7 percent or 10 percent.
He noted the historical upheaval that occurs when any country reaches 10 percent unemployment. The government must focus on giving people the dignity of work and enough income to survive. This is a problem that requires collective action and cannot be solved by individual states.
Data centre competition
States compete fiercely for data centres using tax incentives and land use rights. Kevin O’Leary recently faced backlash in Utah after proposing a data centre there. His argument was that he would simply shop around for a better location.
Pritzker acknowledged that Illinois is in competition with other states. He listed Texas, South Carolina, Michigan, and Florida as rivals. He noted that Texas is run by a Republican governor and legislature who have no intention of changing their approach to incentives.
Illinois does not want to offer excessive incentives just to attract revenue. The state must balance protecting existing revenue with attracting new jobs. If the state cannot offer competitive terms, companies will move elsewhere.
What it means
This interview signals a hardening stance from state leaders against tech giants. Governors are no longer willing to simply accommodate corporate demands for deregulation. The focus is shifting to protecting local economies and workers from the disruptive effects of rapid technological change.
