A group of OpenAI employees has donated more than $215,000 to Guardrails Alliance, a super PAC advocating for stricter regulations on frontier AI labs. The group, which launched with $5 million in initial funding, aims to counter Leading the Future, a pro-AI industry super PAC backed by over $100 million in donations, including from OpenAI president Greg Brockman. Seven current OpenAI employees and one former employee have contributed to the PAC, with Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe donating $200,000, the largest individual contribution.
Guardrails Alliance’s efforts highlight growing internal tensions at OpenAI over its involvement in shaping AI policy. Brockman’s financial support for Leading the Future has raised concerns among some employees, who have pressed executives to clarify the company’s ties to the super PAC. OpenAI leaders have attempted to distance themselves from Leading the Future, but some workers are now using their own funds to oppose it. Shaunna Thomas, a cofounder of Guardrails Alliance, emphasized that the group does not need to match Leading the Future’s financial commitment to be effective.
OpenAI’s global affairs chief, Chris Lehane, previously helped establish Leading the Future and has advised Brockman on political giving, though he is not involved in the PAC’s daily operations. A spokesperson for OpenAI noted that Brockman’s engagement with Leading the Future was in a personal capacity and that employees are free to participate in the political process independently. Gabriel Wu, an OpenAI safety researcher, donated $5,000 to Guardrails Alliance to counter the PAC’s influence on AI regulation.
Source: wired
