 Technology |
Technology |
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Anthropic gives $20M to group backing AI safeguards |
Anthropic said Thursday that it is giving $20 million to Public First Action, a group launched last year by two former members of Congress to support efforts to develop AI safeguards. |
The AI firm, which was founded with a particular focus on safety, underscored that the rapid development of AI comes with "considerable risks" and argued this requires "good policy" to limit these risks and maintain U.S. leadership. "That means keeping critical AI technology out of the hands of America's adversaries, maintaining meaningful safeguards, promoting job growth, protecting children, and demanding real transparency from the companies building the most powerful AI models," the company said in a press release. "We don't want to sit on the sidelines while these policies are developed," it continued. Public First Action was launched in late November by former Reps. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and Brad Carson (D-Okla.). The AI advocacy group put out its first ad this week touting Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) for her work on online safety for children. Stewart and Carson also launched two super PACs last year, one Republican and one Democratic, to back candidates who support AI regulation. This was widely seen as an effort to counter Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by several major AI industry players. "At present, there are few organized efforts to help mobilize people and politicians who understand what's at stake in AI development," Anthropic said Thursday. "Instead, vast resources have flowed to political organizations that oppose these efforts." "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," it added. "Our contribution to Public First Action is part of our commitment to governance that enables AI's transformative potential and helps proportionately manage its risks." |
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, I'm Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. |
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How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: |
AI safety researcher quits Anthropic, warning 'world is in peril' |
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A pair of researchers resigned from Anthropic and OpenAI this week, with one warning that the "world is in peril" from a multitude of crises. Mrinank Sharma announced his resignation from Anthropic in an open letter to his colleagues Monday. Sharma, who has served on the company's technical staff since 2023, first noted that he "achieved what I wanted to here" and is "especially proud of my recent efforts to help us live our … |
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DOJ antitrust head steps down |
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Gail Slater, the head of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) antitrust division, announced Thursday that she is stepping down. "It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today," she wrote in a post on the social platform X, referring to her role as assistant attorney general. "It was indeed the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role. Huge thanks to all who supported me this past year, … |
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FBI warns of romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day |
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FBI field offices across the country are warning about the ongoing rise in romance scams as more people turn to online dating and social media to find love ahead of Valentine's Day. Officials said scammers will often create fake profiles on dating sites or social media apps to lure people into connection and manipulate them into handing over money or sensitive personal information. "Fraudsters are lurking online claiming to … |
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News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: |
- Portugal approves restrictions on social media access for children (Reuters)
- Anthropic raises $30 billion at $380 billion valuation (Axios)
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Pro-crypto super PAC takes aim at Al Green |
A pro-crypto super PAC said Thursday that it plans to spend $1.5 million opposing Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in the Democratic primary race. Protect Progress, which is affiliated with the industry's leading super PAC Fairshake, pointed to Green's voting record on crypto legislation. The Texas Democrat has voted against two major crypto bills in the House this Congress. He opposed the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin framework signed into law by President Trump last year, as well as the Clarity Act, which seeks to split oversight of the broader crypto market between two financial regulators. "As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Representative Al Green has decided to try and stop American innovation in its tracks," Protect Progress said in a statement. "Texas voters can no longer sit by and have representation in Congress that is actively hostile towards a growing Texas crypto community," it continued. "We are committed to electing new members who embrace innovation, growth and wealth creation for all Americans." The Hill has reached out to Green's campaign for comment. Green has previously voiced concerns about how crypto could impact the dollar as the "currency of choice" and whether this could impair the U.S.'s ability to effectively impose sanctions. The crypto industry, which spent heavily in the 2024 elections, heads into the 2026 midterms with a hefty war chest. Fairshake said in January that its network of super PACs had more than $193 million in cash on hand, receiving $25 million each from Coinbase and Ripple and $24 million from a16z last year. |
Crypto Corner is a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. |
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