Innovation Council Action plans to spend $100 million backing pro-AI candidates in November's US midterm elections, escalating the industry's fight against stricter AI regulation. The group, backed by Trump adviser David Sacks, aims to counter growing public and political pressure for oversight. This spending adds to $300 million already raised by other pro-AI PACs, making policy a central election battleground. The move comes as the White House unveiled a light-touch AI regulatory framework, seeking to prevent a patchwork of state laws that could hinder the industry's global competitiveness.

Sacks, a Silicon Valley veteran and former White House AI tsar, argues a federal standard is crucial for the US to compete with China. However, recent polls show a majority of Americans support stronger AI rules, including many Trump voters. Internal GOP divisions are evident, with some Republicans like Josh Hawley and Marsha Blackburn blocking White House efforts to ban state regulations. The $300 million industry-wide spending blitz underscores the high stakes for AI companies seeking to shape future laws.

This financial push highlights the critical role of campaign spending in determining AI's regulatory future. The battle over midterm election support signals that the technology's governance will be a defining issue in the race for control of Congress, with significant implications for the sector's growth and innovation landscape.