While disclosure forms suggest OpenAI has not officially hired any lobbyists, it’s still building a ground game in Washington. | Richard Drew/AP
Lobbyists are rushing to sign up AI companies as clients. And K Street firms also are being enlisted by a sprawling constellation of industries and interest groups that want help influencing AI policy. Another lobbyist said that this past spring, lobbyists without any tech clients began bringing up artificial intelligence at political fundraisers as a means to attract new clients. The same tactic happened with cryptocurrency two years ago, the person said. “The whole point of the business is to find people who need your services and will pay you to do that,” the lobbyist said, laughing.
“What people don’t understand, they are afraid of, and I’m certain there are plenty of consultants who’ve decided to market themselves as AI experts, he said.