Meta has launched a national super PAC, the American Technology Excellence Project, to counter what it views as excessive regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) at the state level. The company is investing “tens of millions” of dollars into the effort, aiming to elect candidates from both parties who support AI development and oppose what Meta considers burdensome regulations. This initiative marks a significant escalation of Meta’s political engagement, reflecting growing concerns about the potential impact of state-level AI policies on the company’s interests and the broader US tech industry.
The PAC will be led by Republican operative Brian Baker, with support from the Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions. This bipartisan approach underscores Meta’s strategy to influence policy decisions across the political spectrum. The company argues that numerous state-level AI policy proposals, numbering over 1,000 this year, pose a threat to America’s competitiveness in the global AI race, particularly against China. Meta believes these regulations could stifle innovation and hinder the US’s technological advancement.
Meta VP of Public Policy Brian Rice stated that state lawmakers play a crucial role in maintaining America’s technological leadership. The company’s investment aims to support candidates who actively embrace AI development, champion the US technology sector, and defend American technological dominance both domestically and internationally. However, details about specific state elections targeted by the PAC’s funding and the PAC’s staffing levels remain undisclosed.
This move follows Meta’s recent establishment of a PAC in California to safeguard tech and AI interests within the state. California has been particularly proactive in enacting regulations aimed at mitigating potential harms associated with AI, including legislation protecting actors’ digital likenesses and proposed bills addressing election misinformation and AI-related risks. The launch of the national PAC demonstrates Meta’s proactive approach to shaping the regulatory landscape surrounding AI, signaling a significant commitment to influencing political outcomes at both the state and potentially federal levels.
