Bhaskar Sunkara

AI position

Aware of x-risk

In a 3+ hour conversation with Lex Fridman (Dec 2022) there is a dedicated segment titled 'AI and socialism' where existential/labor implications of AI came up, indicating on-the-record engagement, though not a recurring theme in his own writing.

Why influential

Controls commissioning, placement, talent, headlines or institutional resources, making this person a gatekeeper for what receives sustained attention. Primary policy lanes: labor; political economy; elections; left strategy.

Who pays attention

Labor organizers, democratic socialists, left academics, progressive campaigns and political-economy readers

Work samples

• Bhaskar Sunkara: Socialism and Communism | Lex Fridman Podcast #349 (The Case for Socialism)

  Dec 22, 2022 · podcast

  3h42m conversation with AI researcher/podcaster Lex Fridman that includes a segment titled 'AI and socialism' (timestamp ~2:18:28) discussing AI's implications alongside socialist theory and labor.

• Jacobin author archive - Bhaskar Sunkara

  Jul 1, 2026 · article

  Recent bylines focus on democratic socialism, DSA politics, Mamdani's NYC mayoral run, and international affairs; no recent AI-specific bylines found under his own name.

• Bhaskar Sunkara on X (@sunraysunray)

  Jul 1, 2026 · social

  Personal X account, primarily political/electoral commentary.