A new power center built around the fight over artificial intelligence is taking shape in Washington. It involves the world’s wealthiest companies, an army of lobbyists, and hundreds of millions of dollars to set the rules that will determine who builds, controls, and profits from AI.
In the first quarter of 2026, AI startups OpenAI Inc. and Anthropic PBC spent millions on federal lobbying—reaching new highs for both. The year before, AI lobbying hit a record $130 million, as Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc. poured millions into the issue.
That’s only one part of an expansive ...