Why AI groups are spending millions to influence midterms
6/23/202616 min
Super PACs with ties to the artificial intelligence industry are spending millions to influence midterm elections this year. We discuss who is behind the spending and what they stand to gain.
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and technology correspondent Shannon Bond.
This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.
Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana, making buying a car 100% online with real transparent pricing and customizable financing that fits your budget. Browse thousands of cars and get yours delivered. Visit carvana.com today. Delivery fees and terms may apply.
Tamara Keith· Host0:17
[upbeat music] Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast. I'm Tamara Keith, I cover politics.
Eric McDaniel· Panelist0:26
I'm Eric McDaniel, I cover Congress.
Shannon Bond· Panelist0:28
And I'm Shannon Bond, I cover technology.
Tamara Keith· Host0:30
Today on the show, groups linked to the artificial intelligence industry are spending tens of millions of dollars to shape congressional races this year. Shannon, there is a lot of money in politics. What's the AI industry's play here?
Shannon Bond· Panelist0:45
Yeah, I mean, this industry is just the latest, uh, to realize that if you spend money [laughs] on, uh, on getting candidates elected, that might have good outcomes for you. Um, but what we're, we're really seeing is that this year's midterm elections have become kind of a proxy battle in this sort of ongoing war over how AI should be regulated. You know, and there- I think there is, you know, widespread bipartisan recognition in Congress that lawmakers, you know, do need to set some rules around this technology, which is, you know, being developed really quickly, being deployed really quickly, has huge consequences for the economy, for jobs, for people's energy bills. At the same time, despite that, that bipartisan consensus, all efforts to advance federal legislation so far have stalled out. Um, but the AI companies