OpenAI is already trying to shape the 2028 election
techcrunch ·
OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane has published an essay urging politicians to develop policies that address public anxiety about AI ahead of the 2028 presidential election. He compares the potential economic impact of AI to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, proposing five priorities that include worker protections, education, and data center development. Critics, such as Kate Brennan from the AI Now Institute, argue that OpenAI’s rhetoric marks a strategic shift aimed at facilitating wider adoption and infrastructure expansion for its own benefit rather than ensuring genuine accountability. While Lehane acknowledges concerns regarding job displacement and affordability, his proposals focus on incentives for skill acquisition and entrepreneurship rather than binding requirements for wealth redistribution. The article highlights skepticism regarding OpenAI’s past opposition to strict safety regulations, including California’s SB 1047, despite current calls for enforceable safety standards. Additionally, Lehane warns against data center moratoriums, comparing such restrictions to the vote authorizing the Iraq War to emphasize national competitiveness against China. Ultimately, the piece questions whether these policy suggestions will meaningfully empower the middle class or merely entrench corporate power within an AI-driven economy.
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