The AI industry is pouring hundreds of millions into US elections

The tech lobby spent $27 million on a single Congressional election in New York. OpenAI-backed Leading the Future spent $8 million on ads attacking Alex Bores, who vowed to rein in AI, in an effort to fire a warning shot—did it work? What does this mean for democracy? Meanwhile, a Michigan town takes on a nuclear AI data center, and a bipartisan effort to legislate against AI theft of artist’s work hits the Senate. 

Plus, I speak with technologist and journalist Molly White about her new project: Tech Influence Watch, which keeps tabs on the enormous sums the AI and crypto industries are spending to influence elections. 

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Tech Influence Watch, Citation Needed

“We Will Fight to Our Very Last Breath” 404 Media

Google is investing $75 million in A24 as part of an AI filmmaking partnershipQuartz

Children’s book illustrators start “We Are Better Than This” campaign to “stop the theft by big tech”

Bipartisan members introduce new bill to protect creators from AI style theft Axios

Big Tech won the race. But the AI fight is just beginning Politico

Producer: Ryan Hodes.

Executive producer: Kate Osborne

Art by Koren Shadmi.

Music by Brian Merchant and Ryan Hall, engineered by Josh Q.