AI policy has evolved from a niche topic into a viable campaign issue for ambitious state-level politicians. The sponsors of both New York's RAISE Act and California's SB 53 are leveraging their legislative victories on AI to run for U.S. Congress, signaling a new era where AI regulation is a key part of a politician's public platform.
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OpenAI's president helped fund a super PAC that lobbied heavily against New York's RAISE Act. However, after the bill was amended to be less stringent, OpenAI's global affairs chief publicly lauded the outcome. This reveals a sophisticated, two-pronged lobbying strategy: aggressively oppose initial drafts, then publicly support the final, more favorable version.
By aligning its RAISE Act with California's SB 53, New York is helping create a powerful, bi-coastal regulatory consensus. This convergence counters the industry's argument against a "chaotic patchwork" of state laws and establishes a baseline for AI transparency that other states may adopt, effectively setting a national standard in the absence of federal action.
AI is not solely a tool for the powerful; it can also level the playing field. Grassroots political campaigns and labor organizers can use AI to access capabilities—like personalized mass communication and safety reporting apps—that were previously only affordable for well-funded, established entities.
A unified US AI strategy is being undermined by politicians with state-level goals. A senator aiming for a governorship will prioritize the interests of a key local industry (like Nashville's music lobby against AI) over federal preemption, leading to a fragmented, state-by-state regulatory nightmare.
Contrary to their current stance, major AI labs will pivot to support national-level regulation. The motivation is strategic: a single, predictable federal framework is preferable to navigating an increasingly complex and contradictory patchwork of state-by-state AI laws, which stifles innovation and increases compliance costs.
A new populist coalition is emerging to counter Big Tech's influence, uniting politicians from opposite ends of the spectrum like Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. This alliance successfully defeated an industry-backed provision to block state-level AI regulation, signaling a significant political realignment.
The economic and societal impact of AI is forcing politicians across the aisle to collaborate. From co-sponsoring legislation on AI-driven job loss to debating state vs. federal regulation, AI is creating common ground for lawmakers who would otherwise rarely work together.
An anti-regulation super PAC's attack ads targeting New York State Assembly member Alex Boris are ironically helping his campaign. The ads raise his name recognition and highlight his popular stance on regulating AI, leading to a surge in donations and volunteers.
Assemblyman Alex Boris argues against copying California's AI safety bill (SB53). Unlike state-specific data privacy laws, such a bill wouldn't grant new rights to New Yorkers, as any company large enough to be affected in New York is already subject to the California law, making the effort redundant.
California's push for aggressive AI regulation is not primarily driven by voter demand. Instead, Sacramento lawmakers see themselves as a de facto national regulator, filling a perceived federal vacuum. They are actively coordinating with the European Union, aiming to set standards for the entire U.S. and control a nascent multi-trillion-dollar industry.