OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced he has no plans to make financial contributions toward this year's US elections, even as other Silicon Valley billionaires have already pledged to spend heavily to influence midterm races that will decide control of Congress. According to reports from Business Standard, Altman made these comments during a visit to Washington on Wednesday, stating that while he doesn't intend to make political donations himself, he sympathizes with those who've promised to put money toward campaigns due to growing opposition to their industry. As reported by Ballotpedia, Altman previously ran unsuccessfully for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District in 2024, having worked as the executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Party and as state director for U.S. Sen. Andrew Kim (D-N.J.).
Leading the Future, a super political action committee backed by OpenAI President Greg Brockman as well as co-founders of Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is actively battling to elect AI-friendly candidates and contest emerging state-level efforts to restrict the new technology and curb data center construction. As reported by Business Standard, OpenAI has sought to distance itself from Leading the Future, which has received $25 million in donations from Brockman and his wife Anna. Meanwhile, OpenAI's top competitor Anthropic PBC gave $20 million to a rival super PAC, Public First Action, which advocates for tougher AI safety regulations.
Senator Bernie Sanders reflected the emerging political battle lines during his meeting with Altman, stating that AI companies have $300 million ready to go to take on any member of Congress who objects to what they are doing. According to Business Standard, Sanders called for legislation to create what he called a sovereign wealth fund financed with a one-time 50% tax on the stock of big AI companies, with proceeds redirected as payments to the public. In a New York Times op-ed this week, Sanders emphasized that Congress has not stood up for the American people in taking on AI due to huge amounts of money.
The Washington visit unfolded as OpenAI lays the groundwork for an initial public offering later this year that could value the company at nearly $1 trillion. As reported by Business Standard, archrival AI developer Anthropic filed confidentially for an IPO this week following a funding round that valued it at $965 billion. The visit also included meetings with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, along with a White House visit for discussions with administration officials on the company's regulatory agenda. The trip took place just a day after President Donald Trump called for AI companies to voluntarily share cutting-edge models for government review before their release.
