Jasmine Sun: AI populism is reshaping US politics, its economic impact far exceeds that of crypto, and 50% of entry-level jobs could vanish by 2030 | Bankless

AI's growing influence in politics could reshape the 2028 election and redefine economic priorities.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 13, 2026

Key takeaways

• AI populism is rapidly gaining traction in US political discourse.
• AI’s significance in politics is expected to increase as voter concerns grow.
• The economic impact of AI is far greater than that of crypto.
• AI is increasingly intertwined with core political issues like the economy and jobs.
• Politicians are leveraging AI to advance pre-existing agendas.
• The perception of AI as a low-priority issue is misleading given its societal impact.
• By 2030, AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs.
• DeFi is evolving to include real-world assets and structured products.
• Most Americans have not adopted crypto as a regular part of their financial habits.
• AI is becoming a political bogeyman, similar to past rhetoric around China.
• The disconnect between AI’s societal impact and its political prioritization is notable.
• AI’s rising political salience could influence future elections significantly.
• AI’s role in the economy is more substantial than many realize.
• The integration of real-world assets into DeFi marks a significant shift.
• The growing political backlash against AI could shape the 2028 election landscape.

Guest intro

Jasmine Sun is a tech journalist based in San Francisco who writes for publications including the Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Standard. She previously worked in tech at Substack before transitioning to freelance journalism, where she has focused extensively on AI policy and its intersection with politics. She is currently collaborating with New York Times chief tech columnist Kevin Roose on a book about the race to AGI.

The rise of AI populism in politics

• AI populism is emerging as a significant political issue in the US.

• I would say that it’s not a primary force in American politics yet but it is rising extremely quickly.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s political relevance is increasing as it becomes more salient among voters.

• AI ranks 29 out of 39… but it has risen in salience the faster than any other issue over the last year.

  — Jasmine Sun

• Understanding the political landscape is crucial to grasping AI’s regulatory movement.
• AI’s integration into political discourse signals a shift in voter alignment.
• The growing political backlash against AI may influence future elections.
• AI’s impact on socioeconomic inequality is a key concern for voters.

AI’s economic and political significance

• AI is becoming increasingly linked to economic and job-related political issues.

• If AI is seen as a bogeyman… then AI will be a much bigger part of the political conversation.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s economic impact surpasses that of crypto by a significant margin.

• AI has some pretty distinct differences one is it’s just a far bigger part of the economy than crypto ever was.

  — Jasmine Sun

• Politicians are using AI to push existing agendas opportunistically.

• A lot of politicians are being pretty opportunistic about… saying maybe this is the reason to do what I’ve been saying all along.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s role in the economy is more substantial than many realize.
• The perception of AI as a low-priority issue is misleading given its societal impact.

The societal impact of AI and its political implications

• AI is perceived as a political bogeyman, akin to past rhetoric about China.

• AI has sort of become almost this political bogeyman… it reminds me of the way that China showed up in the discourse over the last decade.

  — Jasmine Sun

• The disconnect between AI’s societal impact and its political prioritization is notable.

• There’s something dislocated to me when you tell me that AI is twenty ninth in terms of importance on politics yet we have… entire communities showing up into town halls.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s rising political salience could significantly influence future elections.
• The growing political backlash against AI may shape the 2028 election landscape.
• AI’s integration into political discourse signals a shift in voter alignment.
• AI’s impact on socioeconomic inequality is a key concern for voters.

The future of jobs and AI’s disruptive potential

• By 2030, AI advancements could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs.

• Darya Amede is one saying that 50% of entry level white collar jobs are going to go away by 2030.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s potential to disrupt employment is a critical concern for many workers.
• Understanding the impact of AI on the job market is vital for future planning.
• The forecasted job losses highlight the need for policy adaptation.
• AI’s role in reshaping the workforce is a pressing political issue.
• The political discourse around AI must address its employment implications.
• The potential job displacement by AI could influence voter priorities.

DeFi’s evolution and the integration of real-world assets

• DeFi is evolving to include real-world assets and structured products.

• BRX does the heavy lifting so DeFi can finally access real collateral and structured products.

  — Jasmine Sun

• The integration of real-world assets into DeFi marks a significant shift.
• DeFi’s expansion could enhance its functionality and appeal.
• Real-world yield opportunities are becoming accessible within DeFi.
• The evolution of DeFi reflects broader trends in financial innovation.
• DeFi’s ability to integrate traditional assets is a game-changer.
• The future of DeFi may involve more structured financial products.

The adoption and perception of crypto in the US

• Most Americans have not adopted crypto as a regular part of their financial habits.

• Most Americans never really got in the habit of using crypto on a regular basis.

  — Jasmine Sun

• The lack of regular crypto usage highlights barriers to adoption.
• Understanding consumer adoption trends is crucial for crypto’s future.
• The perception of crypto varies significantly across different demographics.
• Crypto’s integration into mainstream finance remains limited.
• The potential for crypto adoption in the US is still uncertain.
• Regulatory and cultural factors influence crypto’s adoption rates.

AI’s role in reshaping political agendas

• Politicians are leveraging AI to advance pre-existing agendas.

• A lot of politicians are being pretty opportunistic about… saying maybe this is the reason to do what I’ve been saying all along.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI is being used strategically in policy discussions.
• The political use of AI reflects broader trends in technological discourse.
• AI’s role in politics is expanding as its societal impact grows.
• Politicians’ opportunistic use of AI highlights strategic motivations.
• The integration of AI into political agendas signals a shift in priorities.
• AI’s influence on political discourse is becoming more pronounced.

The disconnect between AI’s societal impact and political prioritization

• The perception of AI as a low-priority issue is misleading given its societal impact.

• There’s something dislocated to me when you tell me that AI is twenty ninth in terms of importance on politics yet we have… entire communities showing up into town halls.

  — Jasmine Sun

• AI’s societal impact is not fully reflected in its political prioritization.
• The disconnect between public concern and political focus is notable.
• AI’s rising political salience could significantly influence future elections.
• The growing political backlash against AI may shape the 2028 election landscape.
• AI’s integration into political discourse signals a shift in voter alignment.
• AI’s impact on socioeconomic inequality is a key concern for voters.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.