The Unseen Force Shaping AI Regulation
As the world waits with bated breath for the outcome of the presidential election, a different kind of leader is quietly shaping the future of technology regulation. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, has emerged as a key player in the conversation around generative AI, wooing lawmakers and learning from the missteps of social media giants.
From Fear to Embracing AI
When AI and ChatGPT first burst onto the scene, there was widespread fear and panic about their potential impact. However, thanks in large part to Altman’s efforts, lawmakers are now beginning to see AI in a new light. “You’re starting to see that fear get pulled back some,” says Katie Harbath, founder of tech consulting firm Anchor Change and former public policy director at Meta. “They’re worried about how it might impact innovation. People are worried about making sure we can stay competitive with China.”
OpenAI’s Lobbying Powerhouse
Altman has turned OpenAI into a lobbying powerhouse, spending more than ever to influence Washington and bringing on staff with deep ties to D.C. Chris Lehane, a seasoned political strategist, joined OpenAI as its head of global affairs in April, bringing with him a playbook honed from years of working with companies like Airbnb and Coinbase. Lehane’s message to Washington is clear: if the U.S. doesn’t lead the way in AI, an autocratic nation like China will.
A New Deal for AI
Lehane likens the current moment in AI to the New Deal era, when the U.S. invested heavily in infrastructure to position itself for the 20th century. “This is technology where we need to almost think about it at the scale of a New Deal,” he says. “What the New Deal really did is put the U.S. in the position for the 20th century to become the American Century. As we think about AI at this particular moment that we’re in, infrastructure is going to be destiny, and that infrastructure has the ability to help re-industrialize the country.”
The Stakes Grow Larger
As lawmakers begin to grasp the enormity of AI’s potential impact, the stakes grow larger. Can we trust the people behind the curtain? One thing is certain: Sam Altman and OpenAI are shaping the conversation around AI regulation in ways that will have far-reaching consequences for the future of technology.
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