💰 The Lobbying Arms Race Heats Up

In 2024, AI companies didn’t just dip their toes into federal lobbying—they dove in headfirst. With regulatory uncertainty looming like a storm cloud, 648 companies spent big on AI lobbying, a staggering 141% increase from 2023. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a full-blown power move.

“The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines. AI is the future, and we’re fighting to shape it.”

— Anonymous AI Industry Insider

🚀 The Heavy Hitters: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere didn’t just show up—they brought the firepower. Combined, these three AI labs spent $2.71 million on federal lobbying in 2024, a jaw-dropping 4x increase from the previous year. Here’s the breakdown:

• OpenAI: Spent $1.76 million (up from $260,000 in 2023)
• Anthropic: Spent $720,000 (up from $280,000 in 2023)
• Cohere: Spent $230,000 (up from $70,000 in 2023)

These companies aren’t just throwing money around—they’re building influence. OpenAI hired political heavyweight Chris Lehane as VP of Policy, while Anthropic brought on Rachel Appleton, a Department of Justice alum, as their first in-house lobbyist.

📜 The Legislative Battlefield

2024 was a year of chaos and gridlock in AI policymaking. Congress considered over 90 AI-related bills in the first half of the year alone, but progress was slow. States, however, took matters into their own hands:

• Tennessee: Became the first state to protect voice artists from AI cloning.
• Colorado: Adopted a risk-based approach to AI regulation.
• California: Governor Gavin Newsom signed dozens of AI safety bills, including measures requiring transparency in AI training.

But even with these efforts, no state came close to matching the EU’s comprehensive AI Act. California’s SB 1047, which aimed to impose strict safety and transparency requirements, was vetoed by Newsom after intense lobbying from tech giants.

🛑 The Federal Wildcard: Trump’s Deregulation Push

President Donald Trump has made his stance clear: deregulate AI to unleash U.S. dominance. On his first day in office, he revoked a Biden-era executive order aimed at mitigating AI risks. In January 2025, he signed another executive order suspending Biden-era AI policies, including export rules on AI models.

“We can’t let red tape hold back American innovation. AI is our ticket to global leadership.”

— President Donald Trump

⏳ The Clock is Ticking

Anthropic has warned that the window for “proactive risk prevention is closing fast,” calling for targeted federal regulation within the next 18 months. OpenAI echoed this sentiment, urging the U.S. government to take substantive action on AI infrastructure and development.

But with Trump’s deregulation agenda and a divided Congress, the path forward is anything but clear. One thing’s for sure: the AI lobbying arms race is just getting started.

🔥 What’s Next?

As AI companies continue to pour millions into lobbying, the battle for control over AI’s future is heating up. Will federal lawmakers step up, or will states and international frameworks take the lead? One thing’s certain: the stakes have never been higher.