A $100 Million AI Super PAC Focused on New York Democrat Alex Bores, Who Believes It Misfired.

Interestingly, when a super PAC supportive of AI, backed by $100 million from influential Silicon Valley figures, zeroes in on you as its main target, it certainly attracts a significant amount of attention.

“I extend my gratitude to [the PAC] for their collaboration in highlighting the need for effective regulation of such a powerful technology, ensuring a beneficial future for everyone,” remarked Alex Bores, a Democratic congressional candidate and New York Assembly member, in an interview with WIRED. “I couldn’t have hoped for a better partner this week.”

Earlier this year, Bores and New York state senator Andrew Gounardes jointly wrote the RAISE Act, legislation empowering New York’s attorney general to impose civil penalties of up to $30 million on AI developers like OpenAI and Google if they neglect to issue safety reports regarding their technology.

The RAISE Act passed New York’s legislature in June and awaits either the signature or veto from Governor Kathy Hochul before year’s end. It stands among a select group of state-level AI safety proposals nationwide, seeking to regulate AI developers even while the Trump administration prepares an executive order to counteract state AI legislations.

This movement has placed Bores directly in the sights of Leading the Future. In addition to funding from the notable venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, this newly established PAC is also backed by OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman and Palantir cofounder Joe Lonsdale.

Andreessen Horowitz did not respond to WIRED’s inquiry. Brockman and Lonsdale also did not reply to WIRED’s request for comment.

Leading the Future intends to allocate millions to thwart Bores’ congressional aspirations. “Assemblyman Bores has pursued exactly the kind of ideological and politically driven legislation that could hinder not just New York, but the nation’s potential to excel in AI jobs and innovation,” stated the PAC leaders, Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, in a statement to WIRED. They further asserted that the PAC will “actively oppose policymakers and candidates in states nationwide” whose actions threaten Americans’ “opportunity to benefit from AI.” However, they chose not to disclose their forthcoming targets.

Bores believes his technical expertise poses a threat to the AI industry. The New York legislator holds a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech and previously served as an engineer at Palantir for four years before departing in 2019 over a contract renewal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“What intimidates Trump’s major donors the most is my genuine understanding of AI,” he asserts.