# OpenAI president halts $25M pledge to AI super PAC

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-10-01T04:57:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/openai-president-halts-25m-pledge-to-ai-super-pac

## Summary

Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and co-founder, shelved half of a planned $50 million donation to the AI-focused super PAC *Leading the Future* after feeling it distracted the company. In a June Slack message, he called the group a liability and admitted he felt ‘terrible’ about its public stance dismissing AI safety concerns and aggressively opposing critics, including congressional candidates.

The PAC had previously announced Brockman’s pledge of $25 million in 2025 and another $25 million in 2026. Only the first installment was made. OpenAI employees had already pushed back by donating $215,000 to a rival PAC advocating for stricter AI regulation. Brockman, a Trump ally on AI policy, has also donated $25 million to a Trump-aligned super PAC. The move follows an OpenAI blog post distancing the company from *Leading the Future* amid growing scrutiny.

## Key points

- Greg Brockman halted a $25M 2026 pledge to the AI super PAC *Leading the Future*, citing distraction and safety concerns
- OpenAI employees donated $215K to a rival PAC pushing for AI regulation instead
- Brockman has also given $25M to a Trump-aligned super PAC and is a Trump ally on AI policy

## Why it matters

The reversal highlights growing tensions between AI labs, political influence, and public perception of safety risks.

## Sources

1. [OpenAI's President Turns on AI Super PAC](https://newser.com/story/397384/openais-president-turns-on-ai-super-pac.html) (newser.com, 2026-10-01)

Part of the developing story: [AI Super PACs Target Senate Races](https://digestai.news/thread/ai-super-pacs-pour-close-to-one-million-dollars-into-mike-roundss-dakota-senate) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "OpenAI president halts $25M pledge to AI super PAC", 1 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/openai-president-halts-25m-pledge-to-ai-super-pac

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