A new network of super PACs is forming to challenge the growing political influence of artificial intelligence companies, aiming to raise $50 million to support candidates who prioritize AI regulation in upcoming midterm elections. The move comes as the tech industry itself invests heavily in opposing stricter oversight.
The effort, spearheaded by former Oklahoma Congressman Brad Carson, is a direct response to Leading the Future, a group backed by major AI investors like Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman’s family. Leading the Future has already raised $100 million and is actively targeting candidates who support AI safety legislation – their first target being New York House candidate Alex Bores, a vocal advocate for regulation.
Discussions to counter Leading the Future have gained momentum among employees at Anthropic, an AI firm advocating stronger safety measures, as well as donors connected to the effective altruism movement. This indicates growing internal concern within the AI community about unchecked development.
This escalation highlights a fundamental tension: as AI becomes more powerful, its political influence rises, prompting those who fear its potential dangers to organize in response. The involvement of both industry insiders and outside donors suggests a deep division over the future direction of AI regulation.
The conflict underscores the broader trend of tech companies using political spending to shape policy. While Leading the Future focuses on opposing restrictions, the new PACs will aim to elect officials who favor them. This battle for control could dramatically influence how AI is governed in the coming years, with implications for everything from job markets to national security.
The stakes are high, and the outcome will likely depend on which side can mobilize resources more effectively. Both PACs will play a key role in framing the debate around AI regulation, ensuring that candidates take a clear position on this increasingly critical issue.
