Anthropic-funded group backs candidate attacked by rival AI super PAC
A $100M industry PAC attacks a lawmaker, prompting a $20M Anthropic-backed group to spend $450K in defense.
A political battle is unfolding in New York's 12th congressional district, highlighting a major split within the AI industry. Assembly member Alex Bores, who sponsored New York's RAISE Act requiring AI safety disclosures, became the target of Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by over $100 million from Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Perplexity, and Palantir's Joe Lonsdale. The group spent $1.1 million on ads attacking Bores. In response, Public First Action, a PAC funded by a $20 million donation from Anthropic, is now spending $450,000 to support Bores's campaign. The Anthropic-backed group advocates for a regulatory vision centered on transparency, safety standards, and public oversight, positioning itself against the more industry-libertarian stance of its rival. This marks one of the first major public clashes between different AI funding blocs in an electoral race.
- Leading the Future, a $100M+ AI super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Greg Brockman, spent $1.1M attacking candidate Alex Bores.
- Bores was targeted for sponsoring New York's RAISE Act, which requires major AI developers to disclose safety protocols and report misuse.
- Anthropic responded by funding Public First Action with $20M; the PAC is now spending $450K to support Bores, advocating for transparency and safety oversight.
Why It Matters
This clash signals a political split in Silicon Valley, with billions in AI funding now actively shaping policy fights in Congress.