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

AI firms increased U.S. lobbying in 2024, spending $2.71M collectively due to regulatory issues.

: In 2024, AI companies boosted their federal lobbying expenses due to regulatory uncertainties, as seen in the 141% hike from 2023. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere significantly raised their spending for lobbying activities, reaching a combined total of $2.71 million. Notable efforts included hiring experienced lobbyists and supporting AI-related legislation like the CREATE AI Act. State-level AI legislation saw mixed success, and federally, AI governance remains uncertain.

AI firms substantially heightened their lobbying efforts in 2024, amid regulatory ambiguity, increasing their financial commitment at the federal level. Spending on lobbying AI issues surged by 141% compared to 2023, with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI backing significant legislative proposals.

OpenAI's lobbying expenditure saw a dramatic rise from $260,000 in 2023 to $1.76 million in 2024, while Anthropic and Cohere also increased their investments in policy influence. The combined $2.71 million spend by these firms underscores their effort to influence AI legislation policies, albeit dwarfed by the broader tech industry's contributions.

State level legislative attempts like Tennessee’s and Colorado's varied in success, while comprehensive federal statutes remain nascent. The political landscape under President Donald Trump appears focused on deregulation, posing potential challenges to AI governance initiatives.

AI lobbyingRegulatory uncertaintyAI governance