Tech journalist Jasmine Sun, co-authoring a book with New York Times columnist Kevin Roose, warns that AI populism is rapidly emerging as a decisive force in U.S. politics-one that could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs by 2030.
Sun notes that while AI currently ranks 29th out of 39 issues in voter priority, it has risen in salience faster than any other issue over the past year. She compares the rhetoric around AI to the political bogeyman China became in the last decade, with politicians using it opportunistically to justify pre-existing agendas.
"There's something dislocated," Sun says, "when you tell me AI is 29th in importance, yet entire communities are showing up at town halls."
Key insight: AI's economic footprint already far surpasses crypto's, yet most Americans have never adopted crypto as a regular financial tool. Meanwhile, DeFi is evolving toward real-world assets, but the mainstream political conversation remains focused on job displacement and inequality.
By 2028, Sun predicts AI backlash could become a defining election issue, reshaping voter alignment and policy priorities across the board.