Meta is doubling down on its political influence to shape the technology industry’s regulatory future, particularly in California. The company is launching a new California-based super PAC, “Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California,” with a budget of tens of millions of dollars.
This move aims to support state-level candidates who favor lighter regulation of artificial intelligence.
According to a report by Politico, Meta’s “Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California” (Meta California) has been designed to “support candidates for state offices regardless of party who favor AI innovation over stringent regulation.”
As Meta looks to reign supreme over the competitive and costly AI race, the tech giant believes that “Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California’s technology leadership at risk,” per the company’s President of Public Policy Brian Rice – the designated head of the new super PAC.
The company is primarily concerned with influencing the upcoming election for California’s next governor.
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“The Governor takes a balanced approach to ensure that as the AI industry continues to grow, it does so with appropriate guardrails to protect the public,” a spokesperson for the office of the California governor says.
In addition to Meta California, the tech company is investing in “Leading the Future,” another California super PAC backed by AI investor Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and other tech power-players.
Meta’s political spending efforts build upon its recent lobbying in California aimed at blocking or altering bills promising to enforce higher levels of safety, transparency and accountability for the development of AI models and the impact of social media on kids and teens.
Since the start of the year, Meta has spent $13.7 million on lobbying, far-outpacing other tech leaders in the first quarter. The company also poached AI talent from rival companies like OpenAI to help staff its “Superintelligence Labs” initiative, offering one professional up to $1 billion.
According to a new report from Wired, several recent superintelligence hires have left Meta and returned to their previous jobs, shortly after the company announced an abrupt halt to hiring more talent.
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