A16z-Backed Super PAC Is Targeting Alex Bores, Sponsor of New York’s AI Safety Bill — He Says Bring It On

Why It Matters

The clash highlights a broader battle between Silicon Valley’s push for minimal regulation and lawmakers seeking safety safeguards, potentially shaping the future regulatory landscape for AI in the U.S. and influencing how quickly states can act as policy laboratories amid federal inaction.

Summary

A super PAC called Leading the Future, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and other tech leaders, has pledged over $100 million to oppose New York Assembly member Alex Bores, the chief sponsor of the state’s bipartisan RAISE Act that would require AI labs to adopt safety plans and impose up to $30 million civil penalties. Bores, who is also running for Congress, says the PAC’s targeting underscores growing political friction over AI regulation, noting that his bill was shaped after consultations with firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. The RAISE Act, awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature, aims to set state-level safeguards against critical AI harms, while the PAC argues such state rules would hinder U.S. competitiveness and push the industry toward a single federal framework. Bores counters that state action is needed while federal policy lags, positioning the legislation as a pro‑innovation trust framework.