THE AI INDUSTRY USES A LIGHT LOBBYING TOUCH TO EDUCATE CONGRESS FROM A CORPORATE PERSPECTIVE

The artificial intelligence industry has gone on a lobbying binge in the past few years, deploying scores of hired influencers to help shape potential government action.

The growth is not surprising. The technology is being rapidly adopted by powerful sectors — health care, defense, financial services — all with the hopes of having a say on possible regulations.

As AI evolves at such a rapid clip, lawmakers are leaning on the lobbyists’ expertise because think tanks, nonprofit groups and academia are struggling to keep up with the minute-by-minute technological changes.

Relying on PowerPoint slides and briefing papers, AI industry lobbyists are getting lots of face time with lawmakers and staffers, advising them on the ins and outs of the technology.

The campaign has been successful, according to lawmakers and lobbyists who point to the lack of movement on any legislation designed to regulate AI, one of the most complex and vexing policy issues facing the federal government.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Lobbyists in Washington have been racing to pick up clients with interests in AI, a reflection that the technology is growing and Congress is working to determine the best way to regulate the industry.

According to a study by Open Secrets, a watchdog that tracks money in politics, the number of organizations lobbying on AI spiked to 460 in 2023, an over 190% increase from 2022. The number of organizations grew slightly to 462 in 2024. The groups behind these lobbyists are among the top corporations or trade organizations behind the AI boom, from business networks such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Business Roundtable to corporations that includes Microsoft, Intuit and Amazon.

A major reason for the growth is that AI touches on so many different aspects of life, from health care and education to national security and the risks of disinformation.

AI COMPANIES ARE SEEKING TO STIFLE EUROPEAN-STYLE REGULATION