In a New York congressional race, two prominent AI-focused Political Action Committees (PACs) are directly confronting each other, signaling an early and significant battleground for the future of artificial intelligence regulation. This contest is poised to inject substantial funding into the upcoming midterm elections, highlighting the growing influence of AI on the political landscape.
The Jobs and Democracy PAC, the Democratic wing of a pro-AI regulation coalition, has initiated a six-figure advertising campaign to endorse Alex Bores. Bores, a New York assemblyman, has been a driving force behind the state’s new AI law, the RAISE Act. This legislation mandates that major AI developers publicly disclose their safety protocols and report any serious instances of their technology being misused. Bores is currently navigating a competitive Democratic primary for New York’s 12th congressional district. Given the district’s established political leanings, the victor of the Democratic primary is highly anticipated to secure the general election victory.
This engagement marks a notable escalation. Last November, Bores was the subject of an ad campaign funded by a different AI PAC, Leading the Future. This PAC is notably backed by influential figures and entities in the tech and venture capital world, including venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, AI search-engine company Perplexity, and SV Angel founder Ron Conway, among others. The contrast in their approaches — one advocating for regulation and the other seemingly opposing it — sets a clear ideological divide.
The Jobs and Democracy PAC is part of a broader, bipartisan initiative spearheaded by former lawmakers Brad Carson and Chris Stewart. This effort aims to support candidates committed to advancing AI regulation. Public First Action, the umbrella organization, recently received a significant $20 million donation from Anthropic, an AI company that has diverged from many of its industry peers by actively advocating for more stringent regulatory frameworks.
Earlier this month, Public First Action launched a six-figure ad campaign spotlighting Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) legislative record on AI. Senator Blackburn is currently campaigning for the governorship of Tennessee. On the Republican side, the PAC’s affiliated group, Defending our Values PAC, invested a six-figure sum to support Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) in his re-election bid. Senator Ricketts has championed legislation aimed at imposing stricter controls on the export of advanced U.S. semiconductor technology to adversarial nations, underscoring the national security dimensions of AI development.
The escalating conflict between major AI players, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, extends beyond political endorsements. These companies have recently engaged in a public rivalry, notably through Super Bowl advertisements and significant investments in data center infrastructure. This corporate competition adds another layer of complexity to the regulatory debate.
A central point of contention within congressional discussions on AI regulation revolves around the potential preemption of state-level AI laws. Proponents of a federal preemption argue that it would prevent a fragmented regulatory landscape and potentially slow down unchecked AI development. However, proposed federal bans on state AI laws have, thus far, failed to garner sufficient bipartisan support. This stalemate underscores the difficulty in forging a unified national approach to AI governance.
The political maneuvering and significant financial outlays observed in this New York congressional race offer a glimpse into the broader national discourse on AI regulation. As the technology continues its rapid evolution, the intersection of innovation, economic impact, and national security will undoubtedly remain a critical focus for policymakers and industry leaders alike. The outcome of these early political battles could set precedents for how AI is governed across the United States for years to come.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/18984.html
