AI Industry Super PAC Targets New York Lawmaker Behind AI Safety Bill

AI Industry Declares War on State Regulation

A powerful new super PAC backed by some of Silicon Valley's biggest names has fired its opening shot in what promises to be an expensive battle over artificial intelligence regulation. Leading the Future, armed with more than $100 million in funding, has chosen New York Assembly member Alex Bores as its first target, marking a significant escalation in the tech industry's fight against AI oversight 1

1

The super PAC, which formed in August, boasts backing from venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and AI search engine Perplexity. Its mission is clear: support policymakers who favor a "light-touch" or "no-touch" approach to AI regulation while opposing those who seek to impose restrictions on the rapidly evolving technology 1

1

Source: Gizmodo

The RAISE Act Under Fire

Bores has drawn the PAC's ire for his role as chief sponsor of New York's bipartisan RAISE Act (Responsible AI Safety and Education Act), legislation that represents one of the most comprehensive state-level attempts to regulate artificial intelligence. The bill requires large AI laboratories to maintain safety plans designed to prevent critical harms, follow their own safety protocols, and disclose serious safety incidents, including cases where bad actors steal AI models 2

2

Source: TechCrunch

The legislation goes further by prohibiting AI companies from releasing models that pose unreasonable risks of critical harm and establishes civil penalties of up to $30 million for companies that fail to meet these standards. The bill has already passed both chambers of the New York legislature and currently awaits Governor Kathy Hochul's signature 1

1

During the drafting process, Bores consulted with major AI firms including OpenAI and Anthropic, leading to the removal of certain provisions such as third-party safety audits that the industry refused to accept. Despite these compromises, the final version of the RAISE Act has still provoked strong opposition from Silicon Valley interests 1

1

Political Battle Lines Drawn

Leading the Future's co-heads, political strategists Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, have promised a "multi-billion dollar effort" to derail Bores's congressional campaign for New York's 12th Congressional District. In a statement, they accused Bores of advancing "ideological and politically motivated legislation that would handcuff not only New York's, but the entire country's ability to lead on AI jobs and innovation" 2

2

The PAC argues that the RAISE Act exemplifies the "patchwork, uninformed, and bureaucratic state laws that would slow American progress and open the door for China to win the global race for AI leadership." They advocate instead for "one clear and consistent national regulatory framework for AI" that would strengthen the economy and create jobs while protecting users 2

2

Bores has responded defiantly to the attacks, telling journalists he appreciates the PAC's straightforward approach. "When they say, 'Hey, we're going to spend millions against Alex because he might regulate Big Tech and put basic guardrails on AI,' I just basically forward that to my constituents," he said during a journalism workshop in Washington D.C. 1

1

Related Stories

AI industry floods midterm elections with $150 million as battle over regulation intensifies

Super PACs turn AI regulation into a central campaign topic, spending millions in 2026 midterms

AI Super PACs wage $27 million proxy battle over regulation in New York congressional race

AI Industry Faces Political Battle as Rival Super PACs Prepare for 2026 Midterm Spending War

Broader Implications for AI Governance

The confrontation reflects deeper tensions over the appropriate level of AI regulation as the technology rapidly advances. Many in Silicon Valley have pushed to prevent states from passing AI-related legislation, with efforts earlier this year to slip provisions blocking state AI laws into the federal budget bill. While that provision was ultimately removed, lawmakers like Senator Ted Cruz are seeking to resurrect similar measures through other legislative avenues 1

1

Bores argues that state action is necessary given the federal government's slow pace on AI regulation. He compares states to startups, noting they can "function as policy laboratories and move fast to test what works." The assemblyman questions the logic of preventing state action when Congress has failed to address the underlying problems, asking: "If Congress solves the problem, then it can tell the states to get out of the way, but if they're not going to pass a bill that's actually addressing any of the problems...that just doesn't make sense to me" 1

1

The battle over the RAISE Act and Bores's congressional campaign represents just the beginning of what promises to be an expensive and contentious fight over AI regulation, with the industry following the playbook established by cryptocurrency advocates who successfully influenced the 2024 election cycle 3

3