The fight over artificial intelligence policy is shifting from Silicon Valley to Capitol Hill. Anthropic is donating $20 million to Public First Action, a new super PAC focused on promoting AI regulation centered on public safety.
The move signals that the AI arms race is no longer just about models. It is about rules.
A Counterweight to Lighter Regulation
Public First Action describes itself as a counterforce against efforts to weaken AI oversight. The group says it will advocate for sensible rule making and push back against attempts to shape policy through political spending.
Anthropic’s $20 million commitment positions the company as a vocal supporter of stronger guardrails at a time when the regulatory framework for AI remains unsettled.
OpenAI Backs a Different Approach
The donation is widely viewed as a response to OpenAI’s political spending strategy. OpenAI has supported Leading the Future PAC, which promotes pro AI innovation candidates at the state and federal levels.
That PAC has received more than $50 million from sources including OpenAI president Greg Brockman’s family and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Brockman and his wife have also donated $25 million to the MAGA, INC. PAC.
The AI Policy War Heats Up
As AI companies grow more powerful, so does their influence in Washington. Anthropic’s investment shows that leading players are now competing not only in compute and model performance but also in shaping the regulatory landscape.
The next phase of the AI race may be decided as much by lawmakers as by engineers.