● Covered by 2 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact2 neutral
OpenAI and Anthropic Increase Lobbying Spending Ahead of Elections
Key points
- OpenAI spent $1.2 million; Anthropic spent $1.97 million.
- Lobbying topics included cybersecurity, copyright, and cloud computing.
- Both companies' spending has more than doubled year-over-year.
Increased Lobbying Expenditures
OpenAI and Anthropic significantly raised their lobbying expenditures in the second quarter of 2026, spending a total of $3.17 million. This figure represents a 23% increase from their lobbying expenditures in the first quarter.
Breakdown of Expenditures
Anthropic allocated $1.97 million for lobbying, marking a 26% increase from the prior quarter. OpenAI's expenditure of $1.2 million reflected an 18% rise in the same timeframe. Both companies are focusing on issues such as cybersecurity, copyright, cloud computing, and defense procurement.
Comparative Spending Analysis
Despite their increased spending, established tech and defense firms still lobby at much higher levels. Anthropic's lobbying expenditures surpassed those of Nvidia, while OpenAI's approached Nvidia's levels. This trend indicates a growing influence of AI companies in the lobbying arena.
Year-Over-Year Growth
Both AI companies have experienced significant year-over-year growth in lobbying expenditures, with Anthropic's spending more than doubling and OpenAI's nearly doubling. This aligns with efforts to shape legislative and regulatory landscapes affecting the AI industry.
Context of Industry Lobbying
The increased lobbying activities come amid heightened scrutiny of the tech sector by lawmakers. A notable analysis indicated that other major tech firms like Meta and Amazon maintained stable lobbying totals, emphasizing the competitive lobbying environment in Washington.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
OpenAI's ChatGPT received approximately 90% of AI tool spending by US House offices, committees, and institutional accounts, totaling around $100,580 out of $113,740 spent. This indicates a strong preference for ChatGPT among congressional staff for various tasks, despite the availability of other AI tools like Anthropic's Claude.
OpenAI's ChatGPT accounts for approximately 88% of identifiable AI spending by US House offices, committees, and institutional accounts, totaling over $100,000 in the past year. This adoption is occurring as lawmakers consider AI regulation and use the tools for legislative and constituent work. The spending data provides insight into early AI integration within Congress.
OpenAI and Anthropic spent a combined $3.17 million on federal lobbying in Q2 2026, marking a 23% increase from Q1. This surge occurs as AI companies intensify efforts to influence legislation ahead of midterm elections and their upcoming IPOs.