politics
March 3, 2026
AI companies are spending millions to thwart this former tech exec’s congressional bid
A tech billionaire-backed super PAC is spending $125 million to undercut candidates pushing for AI regulation. New York's Alex Bores, a former tech executive himself, is one of them.
TL;DR
- A super PAC funded by tech billionaires, including Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, is spending $125 million to influence state elections and target candidates advocating for AI legislation.
- The PAC is specifically targeting New York assembly member Alex Bores, accusing him of profiting from tech used for ICE deportations, which Bores refutes, stating he quit Palantir over that work.
- Bores argues that his tech background allows him to understand AI and counter industry narratives, and that he is being targeted because he is a threat to the industry's desire for "unbridled control."
- Bores sponsored the RAISE Act, requiring large AI labs to have public safety plans, which he sees as a light-touch regulation that the industry opposes.
- Other tech companies, like Meta, are also investing heavily in super PACs to support pro-tech candidates in state and federal elections.
- Bores is supported by a PAC funded by Anthropic, which also focuses on AI transparency, safety, and public oversight.
- Bores believes the majority of Americans are concerned about AI's rapid development and want assurance that it will benefit society broadly, not just a few.
Continue reading the original article