JB Pritzker Tells The Verge's Decoder Podcast AI Could Push Unemployment Toward 10% as He Seeks Third Term

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker used an hour-long appearance on The Verge's Decoder podcast to lay out his views on artificial intelligence, privacy, data centers and the role of government, two weeks before Illinois voters decide whether to give him a third term. The episode, hosted by Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, was published by The Verge on Oct. 19 under the title "JB Pritzker thinks AI could help us live to 100 — or threaten us like nukes." According to the episode's Apple Podcasts listing, Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

A Governor in the Middle of a Reelection Race

The interview arrived in the closing stretch of the Illinois governor's race. Pritzker, a Democrat, is seeking a rare third term in a rematch against Republican nominee Darren Bailey, whom he defeated by nearly 13 percentage points in 2022, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Independent candidate Collin Corbett is also on the ballot. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Patel opened by asking whether the state would let the Chicago Bears move to Indiana. Pritzker answered: "That is not our intention. We are, in fact, in discussions with the Bears and the NFL about keeping the Bears either in Chicago or in Arlington Heights, but in Illinois."

AI, Jobs and a Warning on Unemployment

Much of the conversation focused on artificial intelligence. Pritzker said he expects AI to change employment in the United States and argued that government should prepare. Referring to the roughly 4 percent jobless rate often treated as near full employment, he said, "in very short order, we could end up at 7 percent and have that be the baseline, or maybe 10 percent."

He also described possible benefits. "My children are 21 and 24. They're going to live to 100 or 110 years old because AI is going to solve a whole bunch of medical challenges, and already is," he said. When asked whether AI poses an existential risk, he compared it to nuclear weapons: "nuclear weapons are still hanging over us as a danger to humanity. And so far anyway, we've managed not to blow up the world."

Pritzker criticized an approach he attributed to President Donald Trump and David Sacks of asking AI companies to "self-police." He said, "That's not going to work, at least not for protecting people's privacy." He pointed to Illinois' Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, which he called "the toughest in the country," but added that "state by state, this is not the way to do this."

That law, Senate Bill 315, was signed on July 6. As Capitol News Illinois reported, it applies to large AI developers with more than $500 million in annual revenue. It requires them to publish frameworks for assessing catastrophic risk and to report safety incidents within 72 hours. It also adds a first-in-the-nation requirement for annual independent third-party audits. The law is modeled on measures in California and New York and takes effect Jan. 1, 2028.

Data Centers and Electricity Bills

Patel asked whether local opposition to data centers is an effective way to regulate AI. "No, I don't. I think it's an effective route toward data center regulation," Pritzker said. He tied the backlash to rising electricity costs. He noted that roughly 53 or 54 percent of Illinois' electricity comes from nuclear power and that the state is a net exporter of electricity.

In June, Pritzker directed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to stop processing new data center tax-incentive agreements starting July 1, according to Capitol News Illinois. He also asked lawmakers to pass broader reforms during the fall veto session. The outlet reported that 27 data centers received more than $983 million in benefits from the incentives between 2020 and 2024.

Social Media Settlement and Privacy

The discussion also covered social media regulation. Illinois is set to receive up to $768 million over 10 years from a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta over teen social media use, announced in August and still subject to court approval, NPR Illinois reported. Under that settlement, Meta will hold back about 30 percent of the total unless TikTok and YouTube adopt similar teen protections. On privacy, Pritzker said Illinois should review its laws "every year." He also cited a state law that bars the use of AI in therapy.

At the close of the episode, Patel invited him back. "I would like to do that," Pritzker said.