AI safeguards group Public First Action says it has raised $80 million

AI safeguards group Public First Action says it has raised $80 million

Public First Action, an AI safeguards advocacy group with various PACs, said Tuesday it has raised more than $80 million to date, including $20 million in the last 10 days.

Why it matters: The fundraising suggests that political spending around AI regulation is becoming even more competitive, potentially blunting the influence of pro-AI super PACs.

  • Public First Action is one of the main players in the AI political spending landscape.

    • Driving the news: Its organizers say that the surge reflects growing backlash against pro-AI super PAC spending against candidates who are pro-AI regulation.

  • Anthropic has not donated more money to Public First since its initial $20 million donation, a person familiar with the matter told Axios.

    • Context: Public First Action is a bipartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit that advocates for AI safety, transparency and stronger oversight.

  • The group is tied to three PACs: Defending Our Values PAC supporting Republicans, Jobs and Democracy PAC supporting Democrats, and the bipartisan Public First PAC.

    • What they're saying: "The project to counter anti-regulatory voices in our democracy is winning. Every dollar we raise sends the same message: no elected official will stand alone when they back AI safeguards, not this year, not next year, not ever," Brad Carson, co-founder of Public First Action, said in a release.

  • "Voters are firmly pro-safeguards, and for leaders, the political risk is no longer championing AI safety, it's ignoring the public demand for safeguards."
  • Co-founder Chris Stewart said in the release: "Protecting children, defending American workers, and keeping our most advanced technology out of the hands of adversaries like China are not partisan issues."