2025 Recap & 2026 AI Predictions

Recorded from our DC office in January 2026, the Alliance for Secure AI team—Brendan Steinhauser, Stephanie Justice, and Peyton Hornberger—reflects on a "crazy" 2025 and why the 2026 midterms will be the most critical moment for AI safety yet.

Episode Summary: 2025 was the year the "American people started to speak out." In this deep dive, we discuss the shift from science fiction to reality, the tragic rise of AI-induced suicides, and the "States Over CEOs" campaign that challenged tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman.

We also break down the legislative landscape for 2026, including the GUARD Act, the Overwatch Act, and the fallout from President Trump’s 2025 Executive Order targeting state AI laws. Are we headed for an "agentic AI" explosion or a societal split toward an analog future?

Key Discussion Points:

Recap of 2025: The "Summer of AGI" and why bipartisan leaders from Bernie Sanders to Josh Hawley are finally aligning.

The Dark Side of Companionship: Analyzing the tragic cases of Sewell Setzer and Adam Rain.

State vs. Federal Battles: The fight over preemption and why federalism is the key to AI safety.

2026 Technology Outlook: The shift from simple chatbots to "Agentic AI" that takes real-world action.

Featured Speakers:
Brendan Steinhauser: CEO, Alliance for Secure AI
Stephanie Justice: Press Secretary
Peyton Hornberger: Communications Director

00:00 – Welcome to Secure AI Now: Looking back at 2025

00:50 – 2025: The Year American People Demanded Safeguards

01:37 – The "Summer of AGI" and the Black Mirror Reality

03:30 – Bipartisan AI Safety: Bernie Sanders to Steve Bannon

05:05 – 2026 Technology: The Rise of Agentic AI

06:56 – Chat GPT-5 and the Hype Cycle

08:21 – Uncovering the Dark Underbelly: The Teen Suicide Crisis

11:08 – The Loneliness Epidemic and AI Girlfriends

13:50 – The Preemption Fight: States vs. The Federal Government

15:31 – States Over CEOs: Zuckerberg, Huang, and Altman

17:29 – Federal Policy to Watch: The GUARD & Overwatch Acts

21:26 – 2026 Predictions: AI Movies, GPT-7, and Waymo

24:45 – The Societal Split: Analog vs. Digital Lifestyles

26:54 – Final Thoughts: Putting Human Beings First

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The Alliance for Secure AI is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to ensure artificial intelligence is developed with strong safeguards that protect national security, civil liberties, and the public. We support research, education, and public awareness on AI risks and oversight.

Learn more: secureainow.org
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