AI Safety Groups Demand $70 Million Spending Ceasefire From OpenAI Allies as Altman Faces Backlash
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 5
AI Safety Groups Demand $70 Million Spending Ceasefire From OpenAI Allies as Altman Faces Backlash
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 5
Summary
AI safety advocates said Sam Altman’s admission that industry political spending is broken is not enough, pressing OpenAI and rival labs to halt or sharply cut midterm election cash.
More than $70 million has already been spent this year by Leading The Future and Public First, after OpenAI President Greg Brockman reportedly withdrew a second $25 million donation and apologized internally.
Alex Bores, whose House bid was hit by about $8 million in spending from Leading The Future and allied groups, said he will not believe OpenAI has changed course without concrete action.
Brad Carson of Public First said he would discuss scaling back only if AI "accelerationists" also retreat, arguing Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz could still pour in another $50 million.
The dispute shows how AI regulation politics are increasingly tied to campaign money, with pro-regulation groups now urging Democrats to reject support they say has become toxic.