By Guardian staff reporter
Publication Date: 2026-02-12 17:10:00
Anthropic will spend $20 million to support U.S. political candidates who support regulation of the AI industry, according to a company statement released Thursday. With its donation, Anthropic stands in contrast to ChatGPT manufacturer OpenAI, which has advocated for less strict regulation of AI.
The company donates to Public First Action, a political group that opposes federal efforts to repeal government AI regulations such as an executive order issued by Donald Trump in December. One of the candidates the group is supporting is Republican Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor in Tennessee and opposed an attempt in Congress to ban states from passing AI laws.
“The companies that develop AI have a responsibility to help ensure that the technology serves the common good and not just their own interests,” the company said in a statement.
The AI industry is expected to play a major financial role in the U.S. midterm elections this year as its leaders seek to influence regulation of the technology. Several…
