Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called on Wednesday for governments and technology companies to establish urgent safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI), stating that the time to address significant risks is narrowing. Speaking at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, South Korea, Harris identified three primary areas of concern: cybersecurity threats, AI-enabled weapons, and systems that could escape human control. She emphasized that AI developers must be directly involved in creating these guardrails to prevent future crises.
The remarks come as Harris campaigns for Democratic candidates ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. During her appearance, Harris also discussed broader geopolitical and economic issues, criticizing the "erratic tariffs" of U.S. President Donald Trump and advocating for a long-term investment approach to global influence. She praised South Korean investments in U.S. sectors, including semiconductors, electric vehicles, and shipbuilding, while expressing concern over increased cooperation between North Korea, Russia, China, and Iran.
Harris specifically urged the United States to cooperate with China on international AI rules and standards. She argued that the strategic rivalry between the two nations should not prevent collaboration on shared technological risks. Regarding her own political future, Harris stated she is still considering a 2028 presidential bid but has not yet reached a decision. She projected that Democrats would win the House of Representatives and have a "very good shot" at winning the Senate in the upcoming midterms.
The scale of the economic shift involves billions of dollars in international investment. Harris highlighted the significance of South Korean contributions to the U.S. economy. For the average worker in the shipbuilding or semiconductor industries, these international partnerships and the resulting policy guardrails could dictate job stability and the technical requirements of their daily tasks. The focus on U.S.-China cooperation suggests that future AI regulations may be shaped by global agreements rather than unilateral domestic policy.
A change in Congressional control following the November 2026 elections, as predicted by Harris, could shift the legislative focus toward domestic and foreign policy, including the current war with Iran. A Democratic-led Congress would likely have a stronger voice in determining the level of federal investment in clean energy and semiconductors. Voters will see the first concrete results of these political shifts during the midterm elections in November, while the long-term impact on AI regulation will depend on whether governments and developers reach an agreement before the "window" for containing risks closes, as Harris warned.
What happens next: The 2026 U.S. midterm elections in November will determine party control of the House and Senate. Harris stated she remains undecided on a 2028 presidential run. Specific deadlines for international AI standards between the U.S. and China were not reported.