The $27 million Al proxy war over Alex Bores ends in a draw

Alex Bores, a New York state Assemblyman, narrowly lost the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional district last night, concluding a $27 million political proxy war involving AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI. Bores' campaign had become a focal point after being targeted by a pro-AI super PAC, which spent significantly on his behalf. The race saw substantial financial backing, with the super PAC, funded by OpenAI co-founder Jan Leike and others, reportedly spending over $1 million to support Bores. Conversely, AI safety advocates and organizations opposed to unchecked AI development also mobilized, contributing to the high-stakes nature of the election. The outcome suggests that despite considerable external investment and attention, the influence of AI-related political spending did not guarantee a victory for Bores. This election cycle marked a significant instance of AI industry players directly engaging in political campaigns, highlighting growing concerns and differing perspectives on the future of artificial intelligence regulation and development.