By Nick Robins-Early
Publication Date: 2026-04-12 10:00:00
OpenAI made a surprise announcement this week — not an update to ChatGPT or any other multibillion-dollar data center — but a policy paper that called for a redesign of the social contract based on “a set of ideas that put people at the heart.” This is the latest move in an aggressive effort by major AI players to reshape the narrative in their industry, as surveys show public disapproval of AI is increasing.
OpenAI’s 13-page paper, titled “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” follows the surprise acquisition of tech-friendly podcast TBPN and announcing plans to open an office in Washington DC that will feature a dedicated space called the OpenAI Workshop for nonprofits and policymakers to learn more about and discuss the company’s technology.
OpenAI competitor Anthropic has since announced its own think tank, the Anthropic Institute, which also announced its intention to study how the growth of AI would disrupt society.
As AI disruptions become more tangible…
