Big AI’s $140 million election machine became ‘politically toxic’
One of artificial intelligence firms’ biggest super PACs has been forced into near irrelevance amid an outpouring of public backlash to the AI boom. Research shared exclusively with The Lever shows that the affiliated PACs of Leading The Future — a pro-AI industry group backed by Big Tech leaders — have bowed out of tight Congressional races this general election cycle as Leading The Future largely becomes regarded as a “politically toxic entity that candidates and donors do not want to be associated with.”
According to the Guardrails Alliance, a labor-backed “counterweight” super PAC in favor of AI regulation, Leading The Future’s PACs did not direct any of the group’s $140 million war chest to the 50 most competitive House races or the seven most competitive Senate races this general cycle. That includes abandoning candidates in competitive general races that the group’s affiliates backed during the primaries.
“While the AI industry is likely to remain a major spender in elections moving forward, it is abundantly clear that Leading The Future has completely and unequivocally failed in [its] political strategy,” said Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of the Guardrails Alliance. “Deep pockets were supposed to make [it] a political powerhouse, but the unpopularity of [its] agenda and [its] funders have made [it] a liability instead.” [Continue reading…]