AI Industry Super PAC 'Leading the Future' Raises $125 Million in 2025
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This article covers a major AI industry super PAC raising $125M to influence U.S. elections in favor of federal AI regulation over state-level rules, directly relevant to AI governance and policy coordination debates.
Metadata
Summary
A super PAC called 'Leading the Future,' backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and others, raised $125 million in 2025 to support political candidates favoring national AI regulation over a patchwork of state laws. The group entered 2026 with $70 million cash on hand and has already intervened in congressional races. It is connected to advocacy group Build American AI, which is pushing for uniform federal AI policy.
Key Points
- •Super PAC 'Leading the Future' raised $125M in 2025, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI and Palantir co-founders, and Perplexity.
- •The PAC opposes state-by-state AI regulation, favoring a single national framework to avoid hampering AI development.
- •The group is opposing a NY congressional candidate who championed New York's AI law and supporting a TX Republican candidate.
- •Connected advocacy group Build American AI launched a $10M campaign for uniform national AI policy.
- •PAC claims bipartisan support and anticipates more AI industry donations in 2026 midterm cycle.
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AI industry super PAC raises $125 million in 2025 Skip Navigation Markets Business Investing Tech Politics Video Watchlist Investing Club PRO Livestream Menu Key Points Super PAC Leading the Future backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI and Palantir co-founders. PAC began 2026 with $70 million cash on hand after spending in New York and Texas congressional races. PAC anticipates more donations from AI industry in 2026. Mesh Cube | Istock | Getty Images A new super PAC backed by AI companies raised $125 million in 2025 to further its goal of backing candidates who support national AI regulations rather than state-by-state rules. The group, Leading the Future , said it has $70 million on hand at the end of the year after forming last summer, according to an announcement ahead of the PAC filing its first campaign finance report. Several states have either passed or are considering their own AI laws, setting up a patchwork of regulations that some in the AI industry warn will hamper progress in developing more advanced technology. "Leadership in AI innovation will define economic growth, national security, and America's role in the global economy, and lawmakers can't afford to be distracted by demagoguery that would cause us to fall behind," Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, the two political strategists leading the PAC, said in a statement. "Candidates who grasp the stakes can expect us to help elevate that message." While the full filing showing all of the PAC's expenses and donors has yet to be made public, the PAC has already jumped into the midterms. The group is opposing Alex Bores , a Democratic candidate for a Manhattan congressional seat who lead the push for New York's recently adopted AI law. The group is also supporting Chris Gober, a Republican congressional candidate in Texas. The PAC, which has said it would support both Democratic and Republican candidates, is also connected to advocacy group Build American AI, which launched a $10 million campaign to push a uniform national AI policy. Contributors to Leading the Future include private equity firm Andreessen Horowitz, Open AI co-founder Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, SV Angel Founder Ron Conway and AI software company Perplexity. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
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