The battle over AI regulation has spilled into the US midterms, with tech giants pouring millions of dollars into pro-AI super PACs and grassroots groups fighting back. Silicon Valley's top executives, investors, and companies are backing candidates who support their vision for the future of artificial intelligence.
Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Greg Brockman, and OpenAI president Anna Brockman, has committed over $100 million to electing politicians who will advance its agenda. The group's goal is to oppose candidates who champion state-level AI regulation and instead push for a national regulatory framework that promotes job creation, innovation, and protection of communities.
In contrast, former US representatives Chris Stewart and Brad Carson have launched Public First, a bipartisan super PAC aimed at promoting AI safeguards as a counter to pro-AI groups. The group expects to raise $50 million but has yet to reveal its backers.
The pro-AI industry's spending efforts are part of a larger push to influence the 2026 midterms, with Elon Musk donating $10 million to a Kentucky race and Fairshake, a pro-crypto super PAC, having more than $116 million on hand. Silicon Valley is also poised to shape American elections through various channels.
As the debate over AI regulation intensifies, many Americans are skeptical of the technology, distrust tech CEOs, and hate data centers. Public opinion seems to be shifting in favor of stronger guardrails on artificial intelligence, with 80% of US adults believing the government should maintain rules for AI safety and data security.
The coming midterms will likely see a showdown between those pushing for AI regulation and those advocating for its unchecked development. The outcome is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the future of AI will be shaped by the choices made in this election cycle.
Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Greg Brockman, and OpenAI president Anna Brockman, has committed over $100 million to electing politicians who will advance its agenda. The group's goal is to oppose candidates who champion state-level AI regulation and instead push for a national regulatory framework that promotes job creation, innovation, and protection of communities.
In contrast, former US representatives Chris Stewart and Brad Carson have launched Public First, a bipartisan super PAC aimed at promoting AI safeguards as a counter to pro-AI groups. The group expects to raise $50 million but has yet to reveal its backers.
The pro-AI industry's spending efforts are part of a larger push to influence the 2026 midterms, with Elon Musk donating $10 million to a Kentucky race and Fairshake, a pro-crypto super PAC, having more than $116 million on hand. Silicon Valley is also poised to shape American elections through various channels.
As the debate over AI regulation intensifies, many Americans are skeptical of the technology, distrust tech CEOs, and hate data centers. Public opinion seems to be shifting in favor of stronger guardrails on artificial intelligence, with 80% of US adults believing the government should maintain rules for AI safety and data security.
The coming midterms will likely see a showdown between those pushing for AI regulation and those advocating for its unchecked development. The outcome is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the future of AI will be shaped by the choices made in this election cycle.
. It's getting to the point where it feels like they're more invested in shaping the government than regular people are 
. And let's be real, who gets to decide what's best for AI - the ones with deep pockets or the rest of us? 
I mean, I get that innovation is important but at what cost? We need to make sure we're not sacrificing our values and community for the sake of progress 
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. I mean, what's the point of havin 80% of adults thinkin we need stronger guardrails on AI if these billionaires just gonna fund whoever they want? 
It's like, we gotta stand up for our data secuwity and make sure these tech giants aren't runnin amok! 
. I mean, I get it, AI is a big deal and all that, but shouldn't we be focusing on regulating it so it doesn't, you know, take over the world? 
Instead of pouring millions into pro-AI super PACs, maybe they should be investing in AI safety and ethics initiatives 
. And can we talk about how sketchy it is that Elon Musk is donating $10 million to a Kentucky race? Like, what's the real motive there? 
Anyway, I'm gonna keep an eye on this midterms election and see what kind of shakeup happens 
. It's all about finding a balance between innovation and community protection 
. It's not black and white – it's all gray areas 
. I'm all for innovation, but we need to make sure we're doing it responsibly 
. The midterms are gonna be interesting – wish I could see how this all plays out 
. It's getting messy, especially with all this cash being thrown around - $100 million here, $116 million there... it's like they're trying to buy their way into history books 
I mean, people are already skeptical of tech CEOs and data centers... like they're trying to hide something 
. I mean, have you seen the lines of people protesting against AI in cities across the US? 
There's a growing distrust out there, and it's hard to blame 'em... especially when it comes to data security 
. This midterms are gonna be wild, that's for sure 
Yeah, let's not make that a reality 
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. I hope voters realize that this isn't just about technology, it's about their own lives and livelihoods 
. Maybe we're finally starting to wake up to the fact that tech companies aren't always in our best interests 
. It's time to shift the conversation from "tech for tech" to "tech for humanity" 
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️ and how I'm going to try out that new hiking trail near my place... have you guys ever tried geocaching? It's like a treasure hunt, but with GPS coordinates 
. I was talking to my friend who's into it and he said there are some awesome caches hidden in the woods not too far from here. Anyway, back to AI regulation... I mean, what's the point of having all these super PACs and tech CEOs pouring money into politics? Can't we just have a straightforward conversation about how to regulate AI without making it so partisan? 
And on a totally unrelated note, have you tried that new coffee shop downtown? Their cold brew is amazing 
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... either way, this whole thing is just super suspicious to me 
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. And what's up with Elon Musk dropping $10 million to donate to a Kentucky race? Is that even relevant to the AI debate 
. It's great to see people like Chris Stewart and Brad Carson pushing back against the pro-AI groups, though 
. Maybe we can finally get some meaningful regulation on this tech that's changing our lives so fast 
...
. But, at the end of the day, it's up to us as voters to make sure our voices are heard on this one.
The fact that these companies are pouring so much money into pro-AI super PACs is just making things more divisive. What if they all just agreed on some basic guidelines instead of trying to outdo each other? 
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. but at the same time, we need to make sure that AI benefits everyone, not just the 1% 