ANTHROPIC
AI companies are spending big on the midterms
United States midterms are around the corner. And the AI industry is opening its pockets.
In May, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei donated $1 million to Public First, a super PAC backing candidates who support mandatory AI safeguards.
This move makes sense on a personal and professional level. Amodei co-founded a company built around ethical AI. Now he’s using his influence to push that vision forward in the political arena.
But Anthropic isn’t the only player in the PAC game. Amodei’s rivals are also pouring money into the future of AI policy.
Leading AI super PACs:
Public First is heavily supported by Anthropic, and advocates for stricter AI guardrails and safety regulations.
Leading the Future focuses on a less-restrictive framework that favors innovation. It’s backed by venture capitalists and tech leaders, including OpenAI President Greg Brockman.
American Technology Excellence Project is a Meta-funded PAC that supports state-level politicians who are pro-AI development.
Honorable mention: Guardrails Alliance is a labor union and employee-backed group fighting for stricter AI safeguards.
Divided we fund
Here’s where things get interesting. These PACs aren’t clear-cut across company lines.
While Anthropic employees donated an additional $2 million to Public First on top of Amodei’s contribution, OpenAI is facing an internal policy divide. Brockman favors an innovation-first agenda, but many OpenAI employees have sided with Guardrails Alliance, a PAC that pushes back on that approach.
When it comes to the future of AI regulation, even the industry’s insiders are split.
There’s another AI race, and it’s headed straight for the ballot box. - TL