A political action committee funded by Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company, has endorsed a New York congressional candidate who is simultaneously being targeted by a rival AI super PAC. The conflict centers on the candidate’s legislative proposal concerning AI safety and transparency.
Focus on the RAISE Act
The candidate at the center of the dispute is Alex Bores, who is running for a congressional seat in New York. Bores has proposed legislation known as the Responsible AI Safety and Ethics (RAISE) Act. This bill would mandate that developers of advanced AI systems disclose their safety testing protocols to the government. It would also require these companies to report any serious incidents of system misuse.
The duel between the two political action committees highlights the growing involvement of major technology firms in electoral politics, particularly around the regulation of their own industry. This marks one of the first visible instances of competing AI interests directly funding opposing political messages in a single race.
Anthropic’s Support and Opposing Attacks
The group supporting Bores has received significant funding from Anthropic. This PAC is advocating for the candidate’s election, framing his policy stance as a measured approach to necessary oversight. In contrast, the rival super PAC, which has not publicly disclosed its specific corporate backers, is running campaigns against Bores. This opposing group argues that the proposed regulations could stifle innovation and place undue burdens on the American AI sector.
Political action committees, or PACs, are organizations that pool campaign contributions to support or oppose candidates. A super PAC can raise and spend unlimited sums but is prohibited from coordinating directly with a candidate’s campaign.
Broader Context of AI regulation
The congressional race has become a focal point in the national debate over how, or whether, the federal government should regulate rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technology. Lawmakers in Washington are currently grappling with multiple frameworks for AI governance, balancing potential risks with economic and strategic competitiveness.
Bores’s RAISE Act aligns with a growing call from some policymakers and ethicists for greater transparency in AI development. Proponents argue that understanding the safety measures behind powerful AI models is crucial for public trust and national security. Critics of such mandates often contend that detailed disclosure could reveal proprietary information or create compliance hurdles for startups.
Looking Ahead
The outcome of this New York primary election will be closely watched by the technology industry and policy analysts as an indicator of voter sentiment on AI regulation. The involvement of well-funded PACs is expected to intensify campaign advertising in the district in the coming weeks. Regardless of the result, the Clash demonstrates that AI policy has become a definitive and financially significant issue in modern congressional campaigns.
Source: Various campaign finance filings and public statements
