ICYMI: At Semafor World Economic Summit, Kelly Talks About Centering Workers on AI Development, Underscores Lack of Strategic Plan in Iran

In the wake of NASA's successful Artemis II mission, Kelly also discussed the importance of American leadership in space for the U.S. economy and national security

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly sat down with CBS' Bob Costa at the Semafor World Economy 2026 to discuss the need to prioritize workers and community input as AI continues to grow in the United States. He also criticized the lack of a clear strategy in Iran and emphasized the importance of space innovation for national security and long-term competitiveness.

Sen. Kelly speaks to CBS' Bob Costa.

Watch the full conversation here. See key excepts below:

On putting workers at the center of AI development…

"Half of Americans are having a hard time affording food. Prices are up. People are concerned as they drive to work: 'Is this the day I'm going to hear that AI has replaced me in my job?' And I get it. […] We have to make this focused on workers. We've got to make sure there's a future for work in this country.

"All these AI companies and data center companies, they're just looking for success, right? They've got investors, they've got their employees, they've got a mission. Our job here in government-and I look at it as my job-how do we guide this, put the guardrails in place to get to the right outcome. And what that outcome is, is that millions of people do not lose their jobs.

"So, I've got a plan here that we build a fund supported by the AI companies and the data center companies and the companies that benefit from AI. […] Can't be on just the taxpayers paying for this. These companies in time are going to make a tremendous amount of money. They should use some of those resources and we should do this as a team. But it is our job here where there's all these kind of options right now and how this is possibly going to turn out."

On the President's lack of a strategic plan in Iran…

"I flew in combat during the first Gulf War. 1991 Iraq invades Kuwait. Very clear strategic goal in that conflict. We've got to remove the Iraqi military from our ally Kuwait, from their territory. And then we had a plan, put smart people in charge of the plan. So, there was a goal. There was a plan. There was a timeline and how to do this. And then there was an exit strategy. I don't see any of that in this conflict.

"We've got 13 dead Americans. We've got our allies that have been attacked. We have our NATO allies and our Gulf allies. Those relationships are now weaker. So, we've got to strengthen those relationships, have to get the Strait of Hormuz open. And we've got to restore somewhat, I think some kind of sanity to our national security."

On supporting space innovation for future generations and our national security…

"Right now, only one country can do this. The Russians haven't successfully landed a rover on Mars, right? Nobody's landed people on the Moon except for us. I hope we do it again before our competitors out there. I think it's one of these things that makes this country so great.

"We're really good at the innovation, and we're really good at inventing things, not only specific things, but entire industries have come from an investment here in public education, college education, graduate education, and a culture that is willing to take risks, be innovative, you know, just 'go for it' in a way that you don't see in other places.

"It is up to us to make sure this stuff is done safely and to the benefit of all Americans, to the taxpayers, and also to our national security. Space is now the next high ground, in any conflict with any kind of near peer adversary."