So Meta’s not just building AI chatbots anymore — they’re building a political war chest
The company behind Facebook just launched a massive super PAC, throwing tens of millions of dollars into the fight against state-level AI regulations—because apparently, it takes a super PAC to keep AI “free” from state regulators. And if that sounds intense… it’s because it is.
Here’s what’s going on:
States across the U.S. are cooking up bills to rein in AI. Over 1,000 have popped up this year alone, with California leading the charge. We’re talking proposals like SB 243 (which regulates AI companion chatbots to protect minors) and SB 53 (which forces big AI companies to be more transparent). Which, honestly, makes sense if you’re worried about safety… but Meta’s like: “Hold up. If every state makes its own rules, AI innovation’s gonna be crawling instead of sprinting.”
So, what’s Meta’s solution? A brand-new super PAC called the American Technology Excellence Project — which, let’s be real, sounds like a superhero knockoff team. It’s bipartisan, run by Republican veteran Brian Baker and Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions. Their mission: elect “tech-friendly” politicians across both parties in next year’s elections.
Simply put: find lawmakers who won’t strangle AI with too many rules.
And to sweeten the pitch, Meta claims this PAC isn’t just about saving innovation — it’s also about protecting kids online. A spokesperson literally said it’s about “putting parents in charge” of how their children use AI apps. Which… coming from the company that’s been grilled over child safety scandals (and those cringey chatbot leaks)… yeah, the irony writes itself.
But here’s the kicker: Meta’s not alone.
Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman just dropped $100 million into their own super PAC to fight state-level AI rules. Earlier this year, there was even an attempt to sneak a law into the federal budget that would have barred states from regulating AI for ten years. And it almost passed. Almost.
So why the panic?
Because a messy patchwork of state laws makes life complicated for Big Tech, imagine releasing an AI product and having to tweak it separately for California, Texas, New York, and every other state. That’s messy, expensive, and slows down the tech race. So Silicon Valley is betting it’s easier to fight once in D.C. than to fight fifty battles across the map.
At the end of the day, whether you see this as Meta protecting innovation or just Meta protecting Meta, this is bigger than one company, and bigger than California.
It’s really about who controls the future of AI: lawmakers or the companies building it. And with the U.S. racing against China, the stakes aren’t just national… They're global.
So buckle up. The battle over AI isn’t just happening in labs; it’s playing out in statehouses, campaign rallies, and now, super PACs. And with Big Tech tossing money around like confetti, this is one fight you’ll want to keep watching.
Oh — and while you’re still processing all that, you might want to dig deeper. Because trust me: whoever ends up in control will shape how AI is built, how it’s deployed, and how safe it is for us — and for our kids.
