Editorial illustration for AI Super PAC's USD 100M Attack Backfires for Bores in Tech Regulation Debate
AI Super PAC's $100M Attack on Alex Bores Backfires
Alex Bores says USD 100 Million AI Super PAC targeting him backfired
A hundred million dollars. A super PAC spent that sum to silence a chatty New York assemblyman, Alex Bores, over his relentless focus on AI safety. They failed.
The money, drawn from venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen, aimed to erase him. Instead, it amplified him.
"I want to thank [the PAC] for their partnership in raising up the issue of how we regulate an incredibly powerful technology so that the future is one that benefits all of us," says Alex Bores, a New York Assembly member and Democratic congressional candidate, in an interview with WIRED. "I couldn't imagine a better partner this week." Earlier this year, Bores and New York state senator Andrew Gounardes coauthored the RAISE Act, a bill that would empower New York's attorney general to bring civil penalties of up to $30 million against AI developers like OpenAI and Google if they fail to publish safety reports around their technology.
The obscure RAISE Act is now a national talking point. Bores framed each attack ad as proof his bill mattered, that it scared the titans. He raised more money.
He got interviews. The intended financial shockwave generated noise, but here the noise *was* the message. Every ad became an involuntary plug for the act, showcasing the very power concentration it seeks to check.
A hundred million buys staggering airtime. It cannot, it seems, control what the public hears.
Related Reading
Business & Startups Nordic pilot adds Gemini for Education, NotebookLM to boost AI literacy
Business & Startups Kling launches Video O1, all-in-one model with MVL bridge using transformer
Business & Startups DeepSeek Seeks More Capital Weeks After USD 7B Funding Round
From Archives ScaleOps AI Infra cuts GPU costs 50% for self-hosted LLMs, adds full visibility
From Archives Suno CEO says typing prompts ‘really active’ as AI adds drums, vocals, stems
Common Questions Answered
How did the AI Super PAC's $100 million campaign against Alex Bores actually impact his political messaging?
The Super PAC's aggressive campaign unexpectedly amplified Bores' message about responsible AI regulation instead of undermining him. Bores strategically reframed the attack as a partnership, turning the negative campaign into a national platform to discuss technology oversight.
What is the RAISE Act that Alex Bores co-authored with New York state senator Andrew Gounardes?
The RAISE Act is a legislative proposal designed to empower New York's attorney general to take legal action related to AI technology regulation. The bill represents a proactive approach to addressing potential risks and governance challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
How did Alex Bores respond to the AI Super PAC's attack campaign?
Bores skillfully transformed the attack into a strategic communication opportunity, publicly thanking the PAC for their 'partnership' in raising awareness about AI regulation. His response effectively turned a potential negative campaign into a platform to discuss responsible technology oversight.
Further Reading
- a16z-backed super PAC is targeting Alex Bores, sponsor of New York's AI safety bill. He says: Bring it on. — TechCrunch
- Billionaire-Funded AI Super PAC Picks Leading Safety Advocate as First Target — Common Dreams
- New York could be on the verge of a milestone AI safety bill — Tech Brew
- Author of New York AI 'safety' bill highlights industry super PAC opposition in congressional run — Inside AI Policy
- AI-focused PAC targets Alex Bores over regulation stance — Mezha
