A super PAC advocating for minimal AI regulation, known as Leading the Future, has launched a campaign against New York Assembly member Alex Bores as he vies for a congressional seat. Backed by prominent tech figures, including Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, the PAC aims to counter policymakers supporting significant regulations in the AI sector.
Established in August with over $100 million in funding, Leading the Future seeks to dismantle legislative efforts that call for stringent AI oversight. Notable supporters of the PAC include Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and AI search engine Perplexity’s leadership.
In a recent remarks during a Journalism Workshop in Washington D.C., Bores expressed appreciation for the PAC’s transparency regarding their intent to undermine his campaign due to his stance on regulating AI, stating, “I just basically forward that to my constituents.” His constituents have voiced concerns over the implications of AI, ranging from escalating utility costs linked to data centers to the mental health impacts of chatbots on children and the potential job disruptions due to automation.
Bores is the primary advocate for New York’s bipartisan RAISE Act, which mandates that large AI laboratories maintain safety plans to mitigate critical risks, adhere to these plans, and report significant safety incidents. The proposed legislation, currently awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s approval, includes civil penalties of up to $30 million for non-compliance and aims to curb the release of AI models that pose unreasonable risks.
Throughout the drafting process, Bores consulted major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, which led to the exclusion of controversial provisions like third-party safety audits. This effort, however, has drawn ire from Silicon Valley leaders.
Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, chiefs of Leading the Future, indicated to Politico their commitment to investing billions to thwart Bores’s electoral ambitions. They described the RAISE Act as an example of misguided state policy that could hinder U.S. progress in AI while enabling competing nations like China to advance.
In response to attempts to prevent states from enacting AI legislation, Bores highlighted the necessity for a federal framework that embraces innovation while addressing regulatory needs. He noted, “If Congress solves the problem, then it can tell the states to get out of the way,” emphasizing that state-level initiatives can act as testbeds for effective AI policies.
Bores further emphasized collaboration with other states to create consistent legislation, addressing concerns regarding regulatory overlaps with the European Union’s AI Act. He maintains that effective AI regulation can foster innovation rather than stifle it, arguing that establishing trustworthy AI benefits the industry as a whole.
In summary, as the debate over AI regulation intensifies, Bores’s commitment to equitable oversight highlights the ongoing tension between innovation and accountability in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
