IBM
Legacy technology company repositioned around enterprise AI, cloud, and consulting. One of the earliest corporate voices on AI governance and ethics. Deploys watsonx AI platform for enterprise clients and has consistently advocated for precision regulation of AI based on risk levels.
IBM spent $1.5M on federal AI lobbying in Q1 2026, with $6.0M in total tracked spending. The company is active in 3 states and focuses on ai governance and precision regulation, enterprise ai (watsonx platform), ai bias and fairness auditing.
Federal Lobbying by Quarter
Public Position
Among the strongest corporate advocates for AI regulation. Supports precision regulation that targets specific AI use cases based on risk level rather than regulating the technology broadly. Calls for mandatory transparency, impact assessments, and third-party auditing for high-risk AI systems. Has repeatedly testified before Congress in favor of regulatory action.
Policy Focus Areas
Key Lobbyists
Bills Lobbied On
- 📋S. 2714 (SAFE Innovation Framework Act)
- 📋H.R. 6580 (AI Transparency Act)
- 📋H.R. 3369 (National AI Commission Act)
- 📋EU AI Act (international lobbying)
- 📋Algorithmic Accountability Act
Notable Actions
- →Published comprehensive AI Ethics Board framework adopted as model by several industry groups
- →One of the first major tech companies to call for binding AI regulation rather than voluntary commitments
- →Chief Privacy Officer testified before Congress multiple times on AI governance
- →Withdrew from facial recognition market in 2020, citing racial justice concerns
State Lobbying Activity
Campaign Contributions
Influence Score
🚨 Revolving Door
Testified before Congress on AI regulation while serving IBM; dual advisory/industry role