Anthropic donates another $20 million, doubling AI policy lobbying funds

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic announced on Wednesday that it will make an additional donation of $20 million to the bipartisan advocacy organization Public First Action, bringing its total commitment to $40 million. Anthropic stated that the decision for the additional donation stems from the continuous enhancement of AI model capabilities (including its self-developed Mythos model) and the potential risks it brings.

Public First Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to public education on AI transparency and safety. The organization is associated with three super political action committees (super PACs) and plans to support candidates advocating for AI safety across both parties. Anthropic emphasized that the donations are solely for supporting Public First Action's policy mission and cannot be used to influence the election of specific candidates.

In a statement, Anthropic noted that AI policy decisions will impact various aspects of public life, including the labor market and national security, and the company hopes to promote "flexible regulation" to manage risks while reaping the benefits of AI. Currently, the super PAC "Leading the Future," which advocates for rapid AI development and light regulation, has received significant funding from supporters including OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and venture capital firm a16z. As AI increasingly becomes a topic in elections, public education and lobbying efforts by advocacy groups are continuing to ramp up.