Politics
Pro-AI group backed by tech investors launches ad campaign for data centers ahead of midterms
Build American AI plans to spend millions in key battleground states to promote data center development.
The short version
- Build American AI, a group affiliated with the super PAC Leading the Future (LTF), is launching a multi-million-dollar ad campaign in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- The effort aims to persuade voters of the benefits of local data centers, a key issue emerging in statewide midterm elections.
- LTF is heavily funded by venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz as well as OpenAI President Greg Brockman, though OpenAI previously distanced itself from the super PAC's tactics.
Key facts
- Build American AI plans to spend millions of dollars on advertisements advocating for data centers in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin ahead of the midterm elections.[TechCrunch]
- Build American AI is affiliated with Leading the Future (LTF), a super PAC funded by VCs Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz along with OpenAI President Greg Brockman.[TechCrunch]
- LTF launched with over $50 million in funding to back pro-AI candidates and oppose politicians lobbying against the technology.[TechCrunch]
- OpenAI published a blog post in June stating it does not direct or oversee LTF's activities and condemned tactics such as astroturfing.[TechCrunch]
- Venture firm Andreessen Horowitz has contributed over $115 million in disclosed federal contributions for the midterm elections, supporting both AI and cryptocurrency political groups.[TechCrunch]
What remains uncertain
- The exact size of Build American AI's advertising budget beyond the multi-million-dollar figure provided by the group has not been specified.[TechCrunch]