AI Companies Expand Political Funding, Lobbying Ahead of 2028 Election

U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) companies are intensifying their political outreach, expanding political funding and lobbying organizations, and preparing for direct engagement with 2028 presidential candidates. As astronomical sums are poured into AI model development and data center construction, future decisions on AI safety regulations, semiconductor export controls, and data center power supply policies could determine corporate competitiveness. Analysts suggest AI firms are now competing not only in technology but also to secure favorable policy environments.

According to *Fortune*, Anthropic has begun recruiting a political program director to lead a "presidential candidate communication program" targeting the 2028 U.S. election, with a salary range of $295,000 to $345,000 (approximately 400 million to 500 million Korean won). The role involves explaining AI technology and regulatory policies to potential Democratic and Republican candidates and their staff, assisting in party platform drafting, convention planning, and transition processes for the next administration. The director will also build relationships with federal, state, and local candidates and influence the selection of Political Action Committee (PAC) support targets. Anthropic stated, "Decisions over the next two years will shape the future," adding, "We aim to ensure candidates from both parties understand AI technology and appropriate regulatory approaches."

◇AI Companies Expanding Political Funding and Lobbying

AI firms’ political activities are rapidly growing. *Financial Times* analysis of U.S. federal lobbying disclosures revealed that Anthropic’s lobbying expenditures reached $3.53 million in the first half of this year, tripling from the same period last year, while OpenAI’s spending doubled to $2.22 million. Google and Microsoft have also aggressively expanded lobbying in recent years.

Approaches vary by company. Anthropic, which emphasizes AI safety regulations, established the political action committee "AnthroPAC" in April, allowing employees to donate to political campaigns. It also funds "Public First Action," a group advocating for AI safety and transparency. CEO Dario Amodei personally donated $1 million to the organization. This reflects Anthropic’s push to communicate its stance on safety evaluations and government oversight aligned with AI development speeds.

In contrast, Greg Brockman, OpenAI co-founder and president, donated $25 million of his personal funds to the super PAC "Leading the Future," which supports AI-friendly politicians. The group raised over $125 million by January this year and is backing pro-AI candidates in the November midterm elections while opposing state-level AI regulations. OpenAI separately hired a congressional affairs director to strengthen legislative responses. Meta, through its own PAC and lobbying organization established in 2011, influences policies ranging from AI regulation to data privacy and data center infrastructure.

◇Government Policies on AI Regulation to Data Center Power Shape Competitiveness

AI firms are prioritizing political outreach because policies decided over the next 2–3 years could alter the industry’s growth pace and cost structure. Key issues include AI safety regulations: mandatory pre-release safety checks for high-performance models and disclosure requirements for risks and development data could affect timelines and costs. Divergent state-level regulations also pose challenges, with Anthropic advocating for safety rules and industry investors pushing for reduced regulatory burdens.

Examples of corporate influence on policy are emerging. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump postponed signing an executive order requiring government testing of advanced AI models after opposition from David Sacks, former White House AI and digital assets advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Anthropic and OpenAI, however, supported voluntary model verification systems at the time.

Power supply and permitting for data centers are also critical. While OpenAI, Meta, and Google plan large-scale investments, grid expansion and power infrastructure projects face delays and local opposition. Government support for grid investments and permits could accelerate AI computing capacity. U.S. restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports to China further impact AI firms’ global operations and competition.

Concerns persist about AI companies’ outsized influence. Bruce Freid, president of the nonprofit Center for Political Accountability, told *Fortune*, "Their political activities appear aimed at shaping or blocking government regulation and oversight."