OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made donations to only two senators in 2023, both of whom are actively involved in shaping AI legislation on Capitol Hill. Altman donated $3,300 each to Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), both of whom have expressed the importance of regulating artificial intelligence.
Although Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, has not introduced any AI legislation this session, she has stated that bipartisan AI regulation is a top priority for her. Cantwell played a role in establishing the National AI Advisory Committee and has advocated for regulations on deep fake technology and increased AI education to protect Americans’ privacy.
Altman’s donation to Sinema in October 2023 is significant considering Sinema’s departure from the Democratic party in late 2022. Despite the decline in Sinema’s fundraising since leaving the Democratic party and her undecided future regarding reelection, she remains committed to the AI sector and is a member of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus. Sinema has called for transparency in distinguishing between AI and human-generated content and emphasized ethical and responsible development of AI technology.
While Altman’s contributions in 2023 were mostly directed towards Democratic parties and committees in various states, his donations to individual lawmakers marked a departure from his previous election cycles’ strategies. Previously, he primarily targeted individual candidates with his donations. In 2023, Altman contributed $200,000 towards President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign and distributed $41,000 among Democratic parties and committees in 39 states. He also donated $41,000 directly to the Democratic National Committee.
Altman’s donations in 2023 slightly exceeded his contributions in 2022 but fell short of his significant political contributions in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, Altman donated over $700,000, with a major focus on the Senate Majority PAC, the liberal-aligned AB PAC, and Biden’s Victory Fund. Notably, most of Altman’s contributions in 2023 were made before his brief removal from OpenAI in November.
In conclusion, the OpenAI CEO’s targeted donations to senators Cantwell and Sinema highlight his support for AI regulation and the importance of responsible AI development. Altman’s contributions in 2023 reflect a shift in his donation strategy, with a larger emphasis on supporting Democratic campaigns and committees.
