Companies ramped up their efforts on AI lobbying at the U.S. federal level last year, as regulatory uncertainty lingered. According to data from OpenSecrets, 648 companies invested in AI lobbying in 2024, a significant jump from the 458 in 2023, marking a 141% year-over-year increase.
Big players like Microsoft threw their support behind legislation such as the CREATE AI Act, aimed at establishing standards for AI systems developed in the U.S. Meanwhile, OpenAI advocated for the Advancement and Reliability Act, which proposed the establishment of a dedicated government center for AI research.
Most AI labs, mostly companies focused on commercializing AI technology, increased their support for legislative initiatives in 2024 compared to the previous year.
OpenAI, for instance, saw a spike in lobbying expenditures, reaching $1.76 million in 2024 from $260,000 in 2023. Anthropic, a close rival to OpenAI, more than doubled its spending, from $280,000 in 2023 to $720,000 in 2024. Similarly, Cohere, an enterprise-focused startup, ramped up its spending to $230,000 in 2024 from $70,000 in 2022.
To strengthen their engagement with policymakers, both OpenAI and Anthropic made strategic hires over the past year. Anthropic brought on Rachel Appleton, a Department of Justice alum, as its in-house lobbyist. On the other hand, OpenAI appointed Chris Lehane, a political veteran, as their new VP of policy.
Together, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere allocated a total of $2.71 million for their 2024 federal lobbying initiatives. While this amount pales in comparison to the $61.5 million the broader tech industry spent on lobbying within the same period, it signifies a significant increase from the $610,000 the three AI labs collectively spent in 2023.
Last year witnessed a flurry of activity in domestic AI policymaking. Congressional lawmakers mulled over more than 90 AI-related bills in the first half of the year, while states proposed over 700 AI laws. Although Congress made little progress, some states took matters into their own hands.
For instance, Tennessee became the first state to safeguard voice artists from unauthorized AI cloning, while Colorado adopted a tiered, risk-based approach to AI policy. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed numerous AI-related safety bills, some of which mandate AI companies to disclose information about their training.
Despite these state-level efforts, no U.S. state has managed to implement as comprehensive AI regulations as international frameworks like the EU’s AI Act.
As the debate around AI regulation continues, the federal government faces challenges in moving legislation forward. President Donald Trump has shown interest in deregulating the industry to enhance U.S. dominance in AI. His recent actions, including revoking executive orders by his predecessor related to AI risks, suggest a push towards fewer restrictions.
Looking ahead, Anthropic has called for targeted federal AI regulation within the next 18 months, emphasizing the need for proactive risk prevention. OpenAI has also urged the U.S. government to take substantive action on AI and provide the necessary infrastructure for the technology’s growth.
