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AI companies upped their federal lobbying spend in 2024 amid regulatory uncertainty | TechCrunch

Jan 24, 2025 - techcrunch.com
In 2024, companies significantly increased their lobbying efforts on AI issues at the U.S. federal level, with 648 companies participating compared to 458 in 2023, marking a 141% increase. Notable companies like Microsoft and OpenAI supported various legislative initiatives, such as the CREATE AI Act and the Advancement and Reliability Act. AI labs, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere, collectively spent $2.71 million on federal lobbying in 2024, a substantial rise from $610,000 in 2023. Despite this, their spending was still small compared to the broader tech industry's $61.5 million lobbying expenditure. The year saw over 90 AI-related legislative proposals in Congress and more than 700 at the state level, with states like Tennessee, Colorado, and California taking steps to regulate AI.

However, federal progress on AI legislation remains uncertain. President Donald Trump has indicated a preference for deregulation, revoking an executive order by former President Joe Biden aimed at mitigating AI risks. Trump also signed an executive order to suspend certain Biden-era AI policies. Meanwhile, companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have called for more targeted federal AI regulation, emphasizing the urgency of proactive risk prevention. Despite state-level efforts, comprehensive AI regulation akin to international frameworks like the EU’s AI Act has yet to be achieved in the U.S.

Key takeaways:

  • Companies significantly increased their spending on AI lobbying at the U.S. federal level in 2024, with 648 companies involved compared to 458 in 2023, marking a 141% increase.
  • OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere collectively spent $2.71 million on federal lobbying in 2024, more than four times their combined expenditure in 2023.
  • Despite increased lobbying efforts, federal progress on AI legislation remains uncertain, with President Trump signaling a deregulatory approach and revoking Biden-era AI policies.
  • State-level AI legislation saw some movement, with Tennessee, Colorado, and California taking steps, though comprehensive regulation akin to the EU's AI Act remains elusive.
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