The Tech Gap
Real talk: The people writing our laws might be lagging behind the tech revolution. Rep. Jim Clyburn, an 86-year-old Democratic lawmaker from South Carolina, recently dropped a bombshell admission: he only found out what artificial intelligence was about a week ago.
During a summer appearance on the America, Actually podcast, host Astead Herndon asked if the 18-term congressman ever used AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Clyburn’s response was a straight-up, "I didn’t know what that was until a week ago."
The Delegation Strategy
When pressed on how he’s supposed to effectively regulate the fastest-growing sector in the world while being this disconnected, Clyburn kept it 100 about his process. "I don’t spend my time trying to learn everything," he said. Instead, he’s betting on his team, noting, "I hire people who put knowledge into the game that I can practice."
Basically, he’s outsourcing his tech literacy to his staff. While he’s focused on building relationships and legislating, the optics of a senior lawmaker not knowing the basics of a tech that’s highkey reshaping our entire economy are… not great.
Why it matters
This clip is going viral again because, lowkey, it’s giving major "the vibes are off" for the future of governance. With AI concerns—like job displacement and safety—becoming main character energy in D.C. debates, people are starting to sweat over whether our elected officials are actually equipped to handle a digital transition. Even NYC Councilwoman Sandy Nurse didn’t hold back, posting that the clip "doesn’t inspire any confidence in Federal legislators." If your goal is to stay informed on how regulation might impact your career or the market, keep an eye on this: the gap between Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill is getting wider by the day.
