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Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina admitted to not knowing what artificial intelligence was until about a week ago during an interview with the "America, Actually" podcast. When asked if he uses ChatGPT or knows about data centers, he replied negatively and attributed his lack of knowledge to having a knowledgeable staff. The clip has drawn criticism on social media for raising concerns about lawmakers' technological awareness. New York City Councilwoman Sandy Nurse recently reposted the video amid her city’s discussions on AI safety legislation.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rep. Jim Clyburn, an 86-year-old senior Democratic lawmaker from South Carolina, admitted to being unfamiliar with AI technology during an interview on the "America, Actually" podcast this summer. When asked if he uses ChatGPT or Claude, Clyburn confessed, “I didn’t know what that was until a week ago.” He also revealed he had never visited a data center. This admission comes amid growing national debate over the implications and risks of AI, including concerns about its impact on employment and society as a whole. Clyburn attributed his limited knowledge to having a capable staff, but critics argue this highlights a disconnect between lawmakers and rapid technological advancements.
Written for “AI Ignorance Among Politicians” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 58699: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-06
A shocking clip of a senior Democratic lawmaker admitting he’s clueless about AI – declaring, “I didn’t know what that was till about a week ago” – is resurfacing as the debate on artificial intelligence heats up across the country.
asserted
debate → admit → country
The stunning admission from Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina came as debate about AI – and whether it might, ya know, end the world as we know it – has been roiling the nation.
uncertain
we → come → nation
“Believe it or not, I didn’t know what that was until a week ago,” Clyburn, 86, told the “America, Actually” podcast over the summer.
asserted
Clyburn → believe → summer
He’d been asked by host Astead Herndon whether he ever uses ChatGPT or Claude.
asserted
he → ask → ChatGPT
“I’m jealous.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
You’ve got yourself in a bubble,” the journo incredulously replied.
asserted
journo → get → bubble
“That may sound strange to you.
uncertain
That → sound → you
I didn’t know what that was,” the out-of-touch pol said.
asserted
pol → know → touch
Asked whether he’d ever been to a data center, he answered in the negative.
asserted
he → ask → negative
“With the speed of technological changes right now, with how much people are anxious about the ways AI and work may change because of it, how do you effectively legislate as a member who’s distant from some of those technological shifts?” Herndon asked.
uncertain
Herndon → change → shifts
“I have a great staff.
asserted
I → have → staff
You know, I wish I could know everything,” replied Clyburn, who announced earlier this year he was running for an 18th term.
uncertain
he → know → term
“I don’t know everything, and I don’t spend my time trying to learn everything.
asserted
I → know → everything
What I spend my time doing is trying to surround myself with people who do know stuff,” he continued.
asserted
he → spend → stuff
“I know how to legislate.
asserted
I → know → ?
I know how to build relationships.
asserted
I → know → relationships
I hire people who put knowledge into the game that I can practice,” the pol concluded.
asserted
pol → hire → that
The clip drew horrified reactions on X.
“This is insane.
asserted
This → draw → X.
We are so doomed as a country to be governed by the elderly.
asserted
We → doom → elderly
AI is altering society on a daily basis,” one user wrote, alluding to widespread concern about Congress being full of sick and geriatric lawmakers.
asserted
Congress → alter → lawmakers
The vid gained renewed attention Monday when far-left New York City Councilwoman Sandy Nurse reposted it.
asserted
Nurse → gain → attention
“Well, this clip doesn’t inspire any confidence in Federal legislators.
asserted
clip → inspire → legislators
It’s actually great that we’re having this hearing and moving legislation as the largest municipality in the country,” she wrote.
asserted
she → ’ → country
Earlier in the day, the Council held a hearing on AI safety featuring Anthropic whistleblower Jacob Coxon, among others.
asserted
Council → hold → others
The Post has sought comment from Clyburn’s office.
asserted
Post → seek → office
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