According to CNBC, the AI industry super PAC “Leading the Future” just launched a $10 million campaign pushing for uniform national AI policy, adding to their initial $100 million war chest from this summer. The group plans TV, digital, and social media ads while organizing 10,000 calls to lawmakers’ offices this week alone. President Trump appears aligned, posting on Truth Social that the U.S. “MUST have one Federal Standard instead of a patchwork of 50 State Regulatory Regimes.” Meanwhile, the White House and congressional Republicans are working to insert language into must-pass spending bills that would suppress states’ ability to implement their own AI laws. Trump is expected to sign an AI-related executive order later today at 4 p.m. ET, potentially creating an “AI Litigation Task Force” and threatening to withhold federal funding from states with their own regulations.
Industry Power Play
Here’s the thing: when you see a super PAC with $100+ million from players like Andreessen Horowitz, Palantir’s Joe Lonsdale, and Perplexity, this isn’t just advocacy—it’s a full-scale political operation. They’re not waiting around for Congress to figure things out. They’re buying influence, and they’re doing it at exactly the moment when AI regulation is becoming a kitchen-table issue. The timing is everything—midterms are coming, and they want to shape the debate before state-level regulations like New York’s RAISE Act gain traction.
State vs Federal Battle
This is where it gets really interesting. The PAC has already targeted New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, who co-sponsored that RAISE Act requiring safety protocols for big AI companies. Bores told CNBC he agrees with federal standards in principle, but asked the crucial question: “Should we stop the states from making any progress before the feds have solved the problem?” That’s the real fight here. The industry wants predictability—one set of rules nationwide. But states like New York and California are moving faster than Washington, creating exactly the “patchwork” Trump complained about on Truth Social. Basically, the feds want to hit pause on state innovation while they figure things out.
Executive Action Coming
Now we’ve got this executive order situation. Trump’s expected to sign something today that could create that AI Litigation Task Force and use federal funding as leverage against states. Nathan Leamer, the PAC’s advocacy director, was already at the White House last week—he posted a picture on X talking about “the need for a national AI framework.” So the coordination is pretty transparent. They’re working both the legislative angle (through spending bills) and the executive action route. It’s a pincer movement against state regulation.
What This Means
Look, we’re watching the AI industry mature politically. They’ve moved from tech conferences to K Street, and they’re playing hardball. The $10 million campaign is just the opening salvo. What’s concerning is the attempt to preempt state laws like New York’s RAISE Act before federal standards even exist. It creates a regulatory vacuum where the industry operates with minimal oversight. And let’s be real—when you’ve got this much money and political muscle behind “uniform standards,” those standards tend to be pretty industry-friendly. The next few months will determine whether we get meaningful AI regulation or just the appearance of it.
