Lobbying efforts by AI companies at the U.S. federal level are increasing as the generative AI industry continues to grow and with an election year on the horizon that could shape future AI policies.
Recent data from OpenSecrets shows a rise in the number of groups lobbying the federal government on AI-related issues, from 459 in 2023 to 556 in the first half of 2024. Major AI startups have also intensified their lobbying activities during this period.
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has significantly boosted its lobbying spending, with expenditures reaching $800,000 in the first half of 2024 compared to $260,000 in all of 2023. The company has expanded its team of outside lobbyists from three consultants to approximately 15 in the first half of 2024.
In line with its increased lobbying efforts, OpenAI has hired prominent former lawmakers and legal firms to advocate for its interests on research and development issues, including former Sen. Norm Coleman and law firms like Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and DLA Piper.
Additionally, OpenAI has strengthened its internal policy team by bringing in industry experts like Chan Park, and plans to continue expanding its global affairs division to engage with policymakers worldwide.
Meanwhile, rival company Anthropic is also investing heavily in lobbying efforts, with plans to spend half a billion dollars on lobbying in the near future.
Even smaller AI firms like Cohere are increasing their lobbying budgets, aligning with the broader trend of AI companies engaging more actively in policy advocacy.
The ramp up in lobbying activities comes at a crucial time, with the upcoming election influencing the regulatory environment for AI. Leading candidates have differing views on AI regulation, setting the stage for potential policy shifts based on the election outcome.
As the debate on AI regulation intensifies, companies like OpenAI are voicing their preferences by supporting legislation that aligns with their interests while also navigating potential antitrust scrutiny from U.S. regulators.
