OpenAI official urges 2028 election focus on AI policy
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, published an essay arguing that the 2028 presidential election should define AI policy. He compares the current economic anxiety to the Great Depression, suggesting a "New Deal" approach to ensure Americans share in AI’s benefits. Lehane outlines five priorities, including worker protections, education, and data center development, while…
Key points
- Chris Lehane proposes a "New Deal" style AI policy for the 2028 election.
- Critics argue the plan lacks binding rules to prevent wealth concentration.
- OpenAI previously opposed safety laws like California’s SB 1047.
Critics, including Kate Brennan of the AI Now Institute, argue the proposal is ahistorical and self-serving. Brennan notes that Lehane’s plan assumes mass AI adoption and benefits without binding requirements to prevent wealth concentration or job displacement. She points out that OpenAI previously opposed safety legislation like California’s SB 1047, making its current call for enforceable safety standards seem disingenuous.
The essay arrives after Democrats flipped Congress in the midterms amid voter frustration over living costs. While AI wasn't a dominant midterm issue, data center opposition emerged as a bipartisan concern. Lehane’s plan focuses on incentives for skills and entrepreneurship rather than strict regulations on corporate power, leaving questions about how the company will be held accountable for economic disruption.
OpenAI is already trying to shape the 2028 election
TechCrunch AI · 4 November 2026
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