Anthropic pledges $20 million to back candidates favoring AI regulation and safety measures

Anthropic Pledges $20 Million to Candidates Who Favor AI Safety

Anthropic's contribution is part of its commitment to governance that enables AI's transformative potential and helps proportionately manage its risks. Anthropic PBC is donating $20 million to a political advocacy group called Public First that's backing congressional candidates who favor safety rules for artificial intelligence, bolstering the company's fight for "responsible AI" as Silicon Valley money floods into congressional races across the US. The donation promises to strengthen AI safety advocates' fight against Leading the Future, a billionaire-backed super political action committee that plans to spend $125 million this year to stack Congress with allies who support lighter regulation of the technology. "In circumstances like these, we need good policy: flexible regulation that allows us to reap the benefits of AI, keep the risks in check, and keep America ahead in the AI race," Anthropic wrote in a blog post published Thursday morning. "We don't want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed." The company wrote in its post that the contribution is "part of our commitment to governance that enables AI's transformative potential and helps proportionately manage its risks." Anthropic has set itself apart from rivals, including OpenAI, by pushing for stringent AI regulations. OpenAI and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz have lobbied aggressively against state AI safety rules across the country, arguing they could hamper innovation and imperil the US in its technology race against China. Anthropic, meanwhile, has urged caution as AI becomes part of daily life. "At present, there are few organized efforts to help mobilize people and politicians who understand what's at stake in AI development," Anthropic wrote. "Instead, vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose these efforts." Public First Action has pledged to support candidates who favor AI regulations in the "public interest." The group on Thursday announced it's launching an ad campaign to support Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who's running for Tennessee governor. An affiliated super political action committee, Defending Our Values PAC, will run ads supporting Nebraska Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, who is running for reelection. The ad campaigns will highlight Blackburn and Ricketts' calls to rein in the AI industry. Ads for Blackburn will focus on her work promoting the children's online safety legislation during her time in Congress, while the campaign for Ricketts will promote his support for export controls that keep AI chips away from foreign adversaries like China, according to Public First. Public First Action didn't specify how much it's spending on the ad campaigns. The group has yet to disclose how much money it has raised beyond the $20 million from Anthropic. Anthropic's pledge comes as pro-AI super PAC Leading the Future, whose backers include OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and Andreessen Horowitz, unleashes its war chest on races across the country. Leading the Future, which says it has $70 million on hand and tens of millions of dollars more committed, is spending to boost candidates who share its vision for industry-friendly rules and oppose candidates who favor more stringent government oversight. Leading the Future and its two affiliated PACs have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on campaigns opposing an AI safety advocate running for Congress in New York and supporting an Elon Musk ally in Texas. The group on Wednesday announced it will spend half a million dollars to boost a Republican in North Carolina and "seven figures" to support two Democratic candidates in Illinois.

Anthropic gives $20 million to group pushing for AI regulations ahead of 2026 elections

The Anthropic AI logo is displayed on a mobile phone with a visual digital background. Anthropic, the artificial intelligence lab that's taken heat from the White House for its support of regulations and safety, is putting $20 million into the political arena ahead of the 2026 elections. The company said on Thursday that it's donating to Public First Action, a group that's challenging the AI industry by supporting candidates across the political aisle. The group has just launched six-figure ad buys to back pro-AI regulation candidates Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Pete Rickets from Nebraska, both Republicans. Blackburn, a U.S. senator now running for governor of her state, has led kids online safety bills, while Ricketts, who's running for re-election, introduced legislation this year to limit advanced U.S. chips from being sold to China. Public First Action is headed by former lawmakers Brad Carson and Chris Stewart. Carson told CNBC in an interview that the group aims to support about 30 to 50 candidates this cycle, and plans to raise between $50 million to $75 million. That's far less than the $125 million raised so far by pro-AI PAC Leading the Future, whose donors include tech investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, venture capitalists Joe Lonsdale, angel investor Ron Conway and AI software startup Perplexity. Carson said public opinion is on his side. A Gallup survey published in September found 80% of respondents wanted rules for AI safety and data security, even if that means slowing development of the technology. "Leading the future is driven by three billionaires who are close to Donald Trump" with a "particular view of how AI regulation should go and want to kind of buy it off," Carson said. "We believe it should be more democratically accountable." In a blog post, Anthropic said policy is needed to "keep the risks in check" as well as "maintaining meaningful safeguards, promoting job growth, protecting children, and demanding real transparency from the companies building the most powerful AI models." David Sacks, President Trump's AI and crypto czar, criticized Anthropic in October, after Jack Clark, one of the startup's co-founders and its current head of policy, published an essay called "Technological Optimism and Appropriate Fear," which sparked a debate over AI regulation online. Sacks posted on X that Anthropic was "running a sophisticated regulatory capture strategy based on fear-mongering." He said the company is "principally responsible for the state regulatory frenzy that is damaging the startup ecosystem." Two months later, President Trump signed an executive order issuing a single regulation framework for AI, undermining the power of individual states, namely Democratic-led states like California and New York.

Anthropic to donate $20m to US political group backing AI regulation

Move puts AI firm in opposition to ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which has advocated for less stringent AI regulations Anthropic will spend $20m to back US political candidates who support regulating the AI industry, according to a company statement released on Thursday. Anthropic's donation puts it in opposition to ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which has advocated for less stringent regulation of AI. The company is donating to Public First Action, a political group that opposes federal efforts to quash state AI regulations like a December executive order issued by Donald Trump. One of the candidates that the group is backing is Republican Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor in Tennessee and who opposed an effort in Congress to bar states from passing AI laws. "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," the company said in a statement. The AI industry is poised to play a major financial role in the US midterm elections this year, as its leaders seek to influence regulation of the technology. Several states have passed laws or are considering bills to regulate the industry. Two former members of Congress launched Public First Action late last year to counter a group called Leading the Future, which generally opposes strict AI regulations. Leading the Future is backed by AI industry leaders such as OpenAI president Greg Brockman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Andreessen's firm, A16Z, is an investor in OpenAI. Leading the Future has raised $125m since its founding in August 2025, according to a spokesperson for the organization.

Anthropic pours $20 million into AI policy fight

Why it matters: AI policy is becoming a campaign flashpoint, and super PACs are raising millions to sway voters. Context: Public First Action is tied to two super PACs, one Democratic and one Republican, that plan to back candidates who support AI safeguards. * The priorities include giving the public more visibility into AI companies, opposing preempting state-level AI regulation without a strong federal standard, export controls on AI chips and regulation on high risks like AI-enabled biological weapons. What they're saying: "At present, there are few organized efforts to help mobilize people and politicians who understand what's at stake in AI development," Anthropic said in a press release. * "Instead, vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose these efforts. Public First Action is working to fill that gap." The big picture: Anthropic is an outlier in the industry, positioning itself as the poster child for regulating AI, from limiting exports of sensitive technology to proposing an AI transparency framework.

Anthropic Declares $20 Million War On OpenAI

Anthropic is taking off the gloves and ramping up its war with bitter rival OpenAI. On Thursday, the Claude chatbot maker announced it was pouring $20 million into a new super PAC formed to oppose the super PACs backed by OpenAI figures, The New York Times reports. With the donation, the dueling companies are poised to fight over shaping the future of the industry's regulation by backing favored candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Anthropic, generally speaking, is in favor of stronger guardrails, while OpenAI opposes stricter regulation. "The AI policy decisions we make in the next few years will touch nearly every part of public life," Anthropic wrote in the announcement. "We don't want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed." Anthropic was founded in 2021 with a focus on safety. It was formed from a splinter group of former OpenAI employees, including Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei, who left the company because of differences over its direction after the then-nonprofit accepted $1 billion in funding from Microsoft. The super PAC Anthropic is now pouring money into, Public First Action, was formed along similar lines, with the ostensible bipartisan mission of preventing political power from being concentrated in OpenAI. Per the NYT, it will operate as a "dark money" nonprofit, which allows it to air political ads without disclosing its donors. One candidate it will be supporting is Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN-R), a vocal AI critic who's running for state governor. The Anthropic-backed group is going up against Leading the Future, an anti-regulation super PAC backed by OpenAI leaders and investors, including Andreessen Horowitz. It has reportedly raised over $100 million, though it's only publicly disclosed half that amount. It's a bold and risky escalation by Anthropic that could land it in the crosshairs of powerful enemies. As the reporting notes, OpenAI is in the good graces of the Trump administration, with the company's president being a top donor to the one in the Oval Office. OpenAI is pro-deregulation, and so is Trump. Anthropic and Amodei, by contrast, have been blasted by figures in the administration for opposing Trump's proposed suspension on states passing their own AI laws, earning accusations of "fear-mongering." Anthropic's announcement parted with what could be interpreted as a thinly-veiled dig at OpenAI, which converted itself into a for-profit corporation despite being originally formed as an altruist nonprofit. "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," it read.

AI's bitter rivalry heads to Washington

Washington (United States) (AFP) - Anthropic's major donation to a political group that competes with an OpenAI-backed organization has highlighted a bitter rift over AI regulation -- a key issue heading into the US midterm elections. With the artificial intelligence industry rapidly advancing, Democrats and Republicans alike have found themselves squeezed between a powerful tech lobby flush with cash and a broadly wary public. Leading the charge on the industry side is Leading the Future, a pro-AI super PAC backed by OpenAI's Greg Brockman, venture capital behemoth Andreessen Horowitz, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and AI search company Perplexity. Brockman, OpenAI's longtime president, and his wife Anna are also among the largest recent donors to President Donald Trump's political coffers, to the tune of $25 million last year. Super PACs are political organizations in the United States that can raise and spend unlimited funds for media campaigns, but not give directly to candidates. Leading the Future raised $125 million in the second half of 2025, according to official filings, and is co-led by Josh Vlasto -- a former adviser to Fairshake, the crypto-aligned super PAC whose playbook Leading the Future is looking to repeat. That playbook proved devastatingly effective in the 2024 election cycle, when Fairshake poured money into races against candidates skeptical of cryptocurrency. Now spooked by the prospect of a repeat in AI, Anthropic has entered the fray. On Thursday, the company gave $20 million to a competing super PAC, Public First Action, which supports AI guardrails -- effectively setting up a direct fight against Leading the Future. The group -- whose funders can remain anonymous -- plans to back 30 to 50 candidates from both parties in state and federal races during the midterm cycle. Founded in 2021 by former AI researchers, Anthropic has grown into a world-leading AI company focused on businesses and software developers. The company, led by CEO Dario Amodei, is disdained by some in Trump's Washington for its outspoken focus on AI safety and its warnings about the job losses that generative AI could unleash. The Trump administration has pushed back forcefully, championing a light regulatory touch and giving AI companies free rein to release their latest models without guardrails or pre-release vetting of their products. White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks recently accused the "left-wing" company of "running a sophisticated regulatory capture strategy based on fear-mongering." He also accused Anthropic of retaining Democratic-aligned staffers to "lobby for the old Biden AI agenda." The two groups are also clashing over the Trump administration's repeated -- and so far unsuccessful -- efforts to ban AI legislation at the state level. In the absence of federal action, dozens of states have introduced hundreds of proposals to regulate the technology. 'Vast resources' While not as well financed as its rival, Public First Action argues it has something Leading the Future does not: the backing of public opinion. Polls show that Americans broadly favor AI safety measures and support a more cautious approach to the technology. "At present, there are few organized efforts to help mobilize people and politicians who understand what's at stake in AI development," Anthropic said in a statement. "Instead, vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose these efforts." Amodei has also made visits to Capitol Hill to meet with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren to back a ban on the sending of powerful chip technology from Nvidia to China, something the Trump administration supports. The battle is already playing out in specific races. In Florida, Leading the Future is preparing to spend millions to support Byron Donalds' campaign for governor as Republicans in the state fight over AI legislation. In New York, Alex Bores -- a pro-AI safety congressional candidate and former Palantir employee -- has already faced a barrage of attack ads from the group. "Crazy populists...could be about to break all of this and we can't let that happen," Palantir co-founder Lonsdale said on CNBC in November, defending Leading the Future's mission to fight AI safety advocates.

Anthropic gives $20M to group backing AI safeguards

Anthropic said Thursday that it is giving $20 million to Public First Action, a group launched last year by two former congressmen to support efforts to develop AI safeguards. The AI firm, which was founded with a particular focus on safety, underscored that the rapid development of AI comes with "considerable risks" and argued this requires "good policy" to limit these risks and maintain U.S. leadership. "That means keeping critical AI technology out of the hands of America's adversaries, maintaining meaningful safeguards, promoting job growth, protecting children, and demanding real transparency from the companies building the most powerful AI models," the company said in a press release. "We don't want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed," it continued. Public First Action was launched in late November by former Reps. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and Brad Carson (D-Okla.). The AI advocacy group is out with its first ad this week touting Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) for her work on kids' online safety. 2024 Election Coverage Stewart and Carson also launched two separate super PACs last year, one Republican and one Democratic, to back candidates that support AI regulation. This was widely seen as an effort to counter Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by several major AI industry players. "At present, there are few organized efforts to help mobilize people and politicians who understand what's at stake in AI development," Anthropic said Thursday. "Instead, vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose these efforts." "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," it added. "Our contribution to Public First Action is part of our commitment to governance that enables AI's transformative potential and helps proportionately manage its risks."

Anthropic puts $20 million into a super PAC operation to counter OpenAI

Anthropic, the safety-focused AI company formed by former OpenAI executives, said Thursday that it was putting $20 million into a new super PAC operation that will be in opposition to super PACs backed by OpenAI's leaders and investors. Silicon Valley's dueling artificial intelligence startups now have dueling super political action committees. Anthropic, the safety-focused AI company formed by former OpenAI executives, said Thursday that it was putting $20 million into a new super PAC operation that will be in opposition to super PACs backed by OpenAI's leaders and investors. The donation effectively kicks off a new conflict between the rivals, with this year's midterm elections as the battleground. At the heart of the disagreement between the companies is whether to regulate the AI industry with more safety guardrails around the powerful technology. Anthropic generally favors politicians who are more pro-regulation than OpenAI does. The New York Times reported in November that the group Anthropic donated to, Public First Action, was in talks with the company to fund its effort to help ensure that OpenAI did not amass too much political power. The regulation-skeptical super PACs backed by OpenAI's leaders and investors are called Leading the Future. In a blog post Thursday, Anthropic did not name OpenAI but warned that "vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose" AI safety efforts. "The AI policy decisions we make in the next few years will touch nearly every part of public life," the company wrote. "We don't want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed." Anthropic's funding will supercharge an effort to elect federal lawmakers who favor more extensive AI regulation, a position at odds with the Trump administration. OpenAI, which was until recently a traditional nonprofit, has not been allowed to make direct political contributions. But the company has mounted an aggressive Washington policy push over the past several years, which now includes an expressly political component through its aligned super PACs. Anthropic, by contrast, is making a contribution in its own name. The San Francisco-based company had spent at least five months "actively working" on a super PAC strategy, said Jack Clark, a co-founder, in September, as part of a broader effort to find its way in Washington.

Anthropic Pledges $20 Million To Promote AI Governance

Anthropic has announced a $20 million donation to Public First Action, a bipartisan organization focused on advancing AI governance and public education. This company announcement highlights Anthropic's commitment to ensuring AI development aligns with public interest and safety. Anthropic's contribution underscores the urgency of addressing AI's rapid integration into various sectors. With AI adoption accelerating, Anthropic stresses the importance of flexible regulations that balance technological benefits with potential risks, such as AI-enabled cyberattacks and biological weapons. Public First Action aims to bridge the gap in AI policy by collaborating with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The organization seeks to implement transparent safeguards for AI models, establish a robust federal governance framework, and enforce export controls on AI technology to maintain U.S. leadership. PFA supports Republican Marsha Blackburn in her run for Tennessee governor. Blackburn has opposed congressional efforts to prevent states from enacting their own laws surrounding AI, several news organizations have written. Recent surveys indicate that 69 percent of Americans feel the government is not adequately regulating AI, a sentiment echoed by Anthropic. The company advocates for policies that enhance transparency and accountability in AI development, ensuring that the technology serves the public good rather than corporate interests alone. Public First Action's bipartisan approach aims to support policies that promote AI model transparency and oppose the preemption of state laws unless stronger federal safeguards are enacted. The initiative also focuses on immediate high-risk areas, such as AI's role in cyber and biological threats. Anthropic's push for state-specific regulation goes against OpenAI founder Sam Altman's stance on the matter. Altman stated during a 2025 congressional hearing that he supports a "light touch" federal approach to AI regulation and would like to see a blanket regulation across all 50 states. Photo: Shutterstock This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Anthropic to donate $20 million to US political group backing AI regulation

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Anthropic will spend $20 million to back U.S. political candidates who support regulating the AI industry, according to a company statement released on Thursday. The company is donating to Public First Action, a political group that opposes federal efforts to quash state AI regulations. One of the candidates that the group is backing is Republican Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor in Tennessee and who opposed an effort in Congress to bar states from passing AI laws. "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," the company said in a statement. The AI industry is poised to play a major financial role in the U.S. midterm elections this year, as its leaders seek to influence regulation of the technology. Several states have passed laws or are considering bills to regulate the industry. Two former members of Congress launched Public First Action late last year to counter a group called Leading the Future, which generally opposes strict AI regulations. Leading the Future is backed by AI industry leaders such as OpenAI president Greg Brockman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Andreessen's firm, A16Z, is an investor in OpenAI. Leading the Future has raised $125 million since its founding in August 2025, according to a spokesperson for the organization. (Reporting by Courtney Rozen; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)