OpenAI and Anthropic, the companies behind ChatGPT and Claude, invested a lot of money in a politician's campaign in New York. They spent $27 million. This shows how strongly large tech companies fight for political influence.
These $27 million are important. They show that large AI companies spend a lot of money to achieve their own goals in politics. This affects more than just the USA. It also determines how AI rules and lobbying are handled worldwide. Lobbying is the attempt to influence politicians. Those who are not careful now could face disadvantages later.
The politician was Alex Bores. He is a member of the New York State Assembly. Bores wanted to be elected to Congress. He ran in a Democratic primary. Pro-AI Super PACs gave him a lot of money. A Super PAC is a group that can raise a lot of money for political purposes. According to The Verge, these groups acted on behalf of OpenAI and Anthropic. Despite the large amount of money, Bores narrowly lost the election. He thus became an example of the expensive fight over AI policy. This fight is often not transparent, meaning it is difficult to understand.
For you as a user, this means: The rules for AI products are not only made by technology. A lot of money and lobbying also influence them. Lobbying is the attempt to influence politicians. You might wonder how your data is protected. Or which AI applications are allowed. Large companies want to write their own rules. Their decisions strongly influence these questions.
Companies, especially small startups or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must prepare for tougher competition. Competition is the fight for customers. If large AI companies influence politicians, they can create rules. These rules can make it harder for smaller companies to access the market. This increases pressure on companies without a lot of money. They must assert their interests or adapt to new rules. These rules are often shaped by the large companies.
However, this situation also offers opportunities. Developers and companies can focus on ethical AI applications. Ethical means they act morally correctly. They can distance themselves from aggressive lobbying. Lobbying is the attempt to influence politicians. This could earn them user trust. New markets for solutions could also emerge. These solutions guarantee transparency and fair use. Transparency means everything is open and understandable. This is especially true as pressure from large corporations grows.
