Anthropic ramps up its political activities with a new PAC
Anthropic has filed papers to create a new political action committee – a sign that the AI lab, like its peers, is devoting significant resources to influencing policy and regulation.
AnthroPAC plans to make contributions to both parties during the midterm elections, including current DC lawmakers and emerging political candidates. The PAC will be funded by voluntary employee contributions up to a maximum of $5,000. Bloomberg reports. A statement from the organization filed with the Federal Election Commission includes a signature of Allison Rossi, Anthropic’s treasurer. TechCrunch reached out to Anthropic for more information.
AI companies, which are comrades and competitors in a new and often turbulent industry, have increasingly sought to push their preferred policies at the state and federal levels. The Washington Post reported last month that AI companies had already contributed as much as $185 million to the midterm races. Also The New York Times in February reported on Public First, a new Super PAC that reportedly received at least $20 million from Anthropic and funded ad campaigns in support of a particular regulatory agenda.
Anthropic’s political activities have increased as the company remains embroiled in a nasty legal battle with the Defense Department. The dispute erupted earlier this year over the government’s use of Anthropic’s AI models and what guidelines (if any) should exist for that use.
