A pro-Artificial Intelligence (AI) super Political Action Committee (PAC) known as "Leading the Future" has publicly targeted New York Assembly member Alex Bores's congressional campaign. The PAC cites Bores's sponsorship of AI regulation as the reason, marking its first opposition against a policymaker advocating for such measures.
Formed in August with over $100 million in commitments, "Leading the Future" is backed by prominent figures including Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and AI search engine Perplexity. The PAC's stated mission is to support politicians who favor minimal or no AI regulation, positioning itself against those seeking to impose significant controls on the technology.
Bores, currently running to represent New York's 12th Congressional District, is the chief sponsor of the bipartisan Responsible AI Standards and Ethics (RAISE) Act. This legislation mandates large AI laboratories to implement safety plans, adhere to these plans, and disclose critical safety incidents. It also prohibits the release of AI models with "unreasonable risks of critical harm" and imposes civil penalties of up to $30 million for non-compliance. The bill is presently awaiting New York Governor Kathy Hochul's signature.
Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, who lead "Leading the Future," indicated to Politico their intent to deploy a "multibillion-dollar effort" against Bores's campaign. In a statement provided to TechCrunch, the PAC leaders accused Bores of advancing "ideological and politically motivated legislation that would handcuff not only New York’s, but the entire country’s ability to lead on AI jobs and innovation." Speaking at a Journalism Workshop in Washington, D.C., Bores acknowledged the PAC's action, stating, "I appreciate how straightforward they’re being about it... I just basically forward that to my constituents."
The PAC leaders further asserted that "bills like the RAISE Act threaten American competitiveness, limit economic growth, leave users exposed to foreign influence and manipulation, and undermine our national security." They characterized the RAISE Act as an example of "patchwork, uninformed, and bureaucratic state laws that would slow American progress and open the door for China to win the global race for AI leadership," advocating for "one clear and consistent national regulatory framework" for AI in the U.S.
Bores has countered that, in the absence of meaningful federal AI regulation, states serve as "policy laboratories" that can swiftly address emerging concerns. He highlighted constituent anxieties regarding data centers' impact on utility bills and climate change, as well as chatbots' effects on children's mental health and automation's influence on the job market. Bores also noted his engagement with policymakers in other states to standardize legislation, aiming to address industry objections regarding a fragmented regulatory landscape and avoid redundancies with measures such as the EU AI Act.
