As the generative AI boom continues, the lobbying efforts at the U.S. federal level have intensified significantly. This surge in lobbying activity is being driven by the rapidly expanding AI sector, which is eager to influence policy and regulation in an election year that could shape the future landscape of AI governance. New data from OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign financing and lobbying, reveals a substantial increase in the number of groups lobbying on AI-related issues—from 459 in 2023 to 556 in the first half of 2024. This growing interest highlights the critical importance AI companies place on federal policies that could impact their operations and growth.

One of the most prominent players, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has dramatically increased its lobbying expenditures. The company spent $800,000 in the first six months of 2024, a sharp rise from the $260,000 spent in all of 2023. OpenAI has also expanded its team of outside lobbyists from three consultants to around 15 in the same period. This aggressive push includes retaining high-profile figures such as former Republican Senator Norm Coleman and former NSA director Paul Nakasone, who joined OpenAI’s board of directors in March. These moves signal OpenAI’s intent to play a significant role in shaping the regulatory environment for AI technologies.

OpenAI's expansion is not just limited to external lobbying efforts. The company has also bolstered its internal policy team, hiring key figures like Chan Park, a former senior director of congressional affairs at Microsoft, to lead its U.S. and Canada partnerships. The global affairs division at OpenAI has grown more than fourfold since last year, reflecting the company's global ambitions and its strategy to influence AI regulation on multiple fronts.

Other AI startups, such as Anthropic, are following a similar trajectory. Anthropic, a key rival of OpenAI, is on track to spend half a million dollars on lobbying in 2024, doubling its efforts compared to the previous year. The company has invested in both in-house and external lobbying teams, recognizing the high stakes involved in the evolving regulatory environment.

Even smaller AI firms like Cohere are increasing their lobbying budgets, underscoring the industry-wide recognition that federal policy decisions will be crucial in determining the future direction of AI technologies. The intensified lobbying efforts coincide with an election year where the leading presidential candidates have starkly different views on AI regulation. This political divide, coupled with ongoing investigations by U.S. regulators into potential antitrust issues involving major AI companies, adds to the uncertainty and urgency driving these lobbying activities.

As the U.S. prepares for the November elections, the AI industry is clearly positioning itself to influence future policies that will govern the development and deployment of AI technologies. The outcome of these efforts could have far-reaching implications, not just for the companies involved but for the broader technological landscape as well.

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