OpenAI and Anthropic are expanding their rivalry beyond technology into the political arena, with both companies funding opposing political action committees ahead of the US midterm elections. The $380 billion-valued Anthropic has contributed $20 million to a super-PAC opposing political groups aligned with OpenAI leaders and investors.

The battle reflects fundamental disagreements over AI policy. OpenAI, led by president Greg Brockman, advocates for minimal regulation to maintain American competitiveness and innovation. Anthropic, which markets itself as focused on AI safety and responsibility, pushes for stronger guardrails, arguing "the window to get policy right is closing" with no federal framework on the horizon.

These competing visions are creating novel political alliances that don't fit traditional left-right divides. While the White House warns that state-by-state regulation would create a patchwork regime stifling innovation, state governments view themselves as vanguards of consumer protection. Both companies scramble to shape policy as AI adoption accelerates faster than any technology in history.