Data-driven analysis of AI policy trends, lobbying patterns, and regulatory developments.
Four case studies show what happens when AI companies spend big to shape—or kill—regulation
Analysis of four landmark AI bills reveals a pattern: when industry lobbying spikes, legislation weakens or dies. From California's vetoed SB 1047 to stalled federal efforts, the data shows bills facing >$10M in lobbying opposition have just a 12% passage rate.
For the first time, Anthropic's federal lobbying topped OpenAI's — and the numbers tell a bigger story about AI's influence in Washington
Anthropic outspent OpenAI in federal lobbying for the first time in Q1 2026, spending $1.6M vs OpenAI's $1.5M. Meta topped all AI companies at $7.1M. The seven biggest tech companies spent $50M+ on lobbying in just nine months.
Big Tech's AI lobbying machine runs on five core tactics: revolving door hires, coalition building, astroturfing, federal preemption strategy, and 'innovation' framing. Combined Q1 2026 spending exceeded $18M from the top players alone.
A December 2025 executive order asserts federal authority over state AI regulation, but states aren't backing down. With 700+ state AI bills and no federal law, the fight over who regulates AI is heading toward a constitutional confrontation.
The death of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer after interactions with a Character.AI chatbot sparked a nationwide legislative movement. As of early 2026, 78 bills in 27 states target chatbot safety, from age verification to liability for harm.
AI is already making life-and-death healthcare decisions — from reading radiology scans to approving insurance claims — but the regulatory framework hasn't caught up. With 340+ FDA-cleared AI devices and minimal post-market surveillance, the gap between deployment and oversight is growing.
A wave of copyright lawsuits — including the NYT's billion-dollar case against OpenAI — is forcing courts to decide whether AI training on copyrighted works constitutes fair use. Meanwhile, companies are racing to sign licensing deals, and states are passing their own protections.
AI's explosive growth is driving an unprecedented surge in energy demand. Data centers could consume 4.5% of US electricity by 2030, prompting tech companies to pursue nuclear deals, face local backlash, and lobby for permitting reform.
The AI industry is split between open-source models (Meta's LLaMA, Mistral, DeepSeek) and closed systems (OpenAI's GPT, Anthropic's Claude). Regulation may treat them very differently — and the lobbying war over that distinction is worth billions.
At least eight federal agencies have some jurisdiction over AI, from the FTC's consumer protection authority to the FDA's medical device oversight. But no single agency is in charge — creating gaps, overlaps, and a growing chorus of calls for a dedicated AI regulator.
A decade of data reveals how artificial intelligence went from policy footnote to Washington's most expensive lobbying topic
Tracking the explosive growth of AI lobbying from under $5 million in 2013 to over $50 million in combined spending by 2025, with Meta alone dropping $36M+ in the first half of 2025.
53% of data center lobbyists are former government officials — and the AI industry is hiring them at record rates
More than half of lobbyists working data center and AI infrastructure issues previously held government positions. This investigation maps the revolving door between federal agencies and the AI industry.
Analysis of state AI legislation reveals a stark partisan divide: Democrats sponsor two-thirds of AI bills, only 3 have bipartisan co-sponsorship, and 'responsible governance' framing passes at nearly 4x the rate of other approaches.
Anthropic's $20M PAC, tens of millions from AI-aligned groups — tracking every dollar flowing into 2026 races
AI companies are spending tens of millions on 2026 midterm races through PACs and aligned groups. Anthropic's $20M contribution to Public First Action leads the pack. This investigation connects the money to the candidates to the legislation.
A comprehensive database of every federal and state enforcement action targeting AI products and services, from the FTC's deception cases to the DOJ's algorithmic pricing prosecution.
Statistical analysis of AI bill passage rates reveals that framing, bipartisanship, state characteristics, and topic all significantly predict whether an AI bill becomes law. 'Responsible governance' framing dominates at 38.6%.
The hypocrisy tracker: comparing public 'responsible AI' statements against actual lobbying positions
A company-by-company comparison of public 'responsible AI' commitments against actual lobbying positions, PAC spending, and legislative advocacy. The gaps are revealing.
Inside the strategies, spending, and revolving doors that define AI policy influence
A deep dive into the lobbying tactics AI companies use to shape regulation — from record spending to the revolving door between government and Silicon Valley.
With 1,561 AI bills introduced across state legislatures in 2026 and no comprehensive federal law in sight, the fight over preemption is becoming the defining battle of AI regulation.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, over 20 states have passed deepfake election laws and Congress is debating the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act — but is it enough?
At least 78 bills targeting chatbot safety for minors have been introduced in 2026, driven by Character.AI lawsuits and a growing parental advocacy movement.
A quiet wave of healthcare AI regulation is emerging in state legislatures, targeting insurance claim denials, clinical decision support, and diagnostic tools — backed by $4.2M in industry lobbying.
The military AI sector is booming, with Palantir spending $8M+ on lobbying and defense contractors competing for billions in autonomous systems contracts. Who is shaping the rules of AI warfare?
The fight over AI training data and copyright is intensifying, with major lawsuits from the New York Times and music labels, the No AI FRAUD Act in Congress, and billions of dollars at stake.
AI's massive energy demands are driving a 233% increase in energy-related lobbying and prompting states to regulate data center power consumption for the first time.
The open-source vs closed-source divide in AI is creating a regulatory fault line, with Meta championing open models and OpenAI defending proprietary approaches — each with different implications for safety and competition.
No single federal agency regulates AI in the United States. Instead, oversight is scattered across NIST, FTC, FDA, DOD, SEC, and others — creating gaps, overlaps, and a regulatory maze.
OpenAI dramatically increased its federal lobbying expenditure, signaling a strategic pivot as regulation debates intensify in Washington.
Tech giants pour record sums into shaping AI regulation at federal and state levels
Major tech companies spent over $100M on AI-related lobbying in 2025, with Meta leading at $28.4M and newcomers like OpenAI increasing spend 7x year-over-year.
At least 20 states have enacted or are considering laws specifically targeting AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns and elections.
What the landmark consumer protection bill means for AI developers and deployers
Colorado's SB24-205 sets the standard for state-level AI regulation, requiring algorithmic discrimination impact assessments and consumer disclosures for high-risk AI systems.
With over 700 AI-related bills introduced across all 50 states in 2025, a complex patchwork of regulation is emerging that could reshape the AI industry.
California's AI Transparency Act (SB 942) requires generative AI providers to include provenance data and offer free detection tools, setting a new baseline for AI transparency.