OpenAI Strengthens Political Lobbying Efforts in the United States After Midterm Elections

OpenAI has been found to be preparing to strengthen its lobbying and public relations (PR) activities in anticipation of the U.S. midterm elections. The company's stance to intensify its political engagement with Washington DC has become clear.

Policy discussions surrounding artificial intelligence have increasingly gained prominence in U.S. politics in recent years. Following the emergence of ChatGPT, interest has grown in the impact that the rapid proliferation of generative AI is having on society and the economy, and both the U.S. Congress and regulatory authorities have begun to respond to these developments. In this context, the importance for AI companies of directly influencing the policy-forming arena has increased, and lobbying activities are positioned as a representative means to do so.

OpenAI's move comes at a political inflection point following the midterm elections. After elections, the balance of power in Congress may shift, and it is also a time when new policy directions tend to be established. Timed to coincide with this period, the company is planning to deploy efforts that combine lobbying and PR activities, as confirmed in recent reporting.

This move symbolizes a broader trend of corporate actors seeking to actively engage in AI regulation and policy formation. The effort to communicate industry positions and arguments to policymakers before regulatory frameworks are finalized is a strategy commonly employed by technology companies to protect emerging industries, and OpenAI appears to be following this approach. As discussions regarding AI governance legislation intensify going forward, attention will be focused on how the company's activities in Washington will unfold.