A New York Assembly member and Democratic congressional candidate has found himself at the center of a $100 million battle between Silicon Valley bigwigs and an anti-AI PAC. Alex Bores, who holds a master's degree in computer science from Georgia Tech and worked as an engineer at Palantir for four years before quitting due to a contract renewal with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has become the target of Leading the Future, a super PAC funded by venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman, and Palantir cofounder Joe Lonsdale.
Bores' crusade against AI safety regulations is being seen as a threat to the companies involved. In an interview with WIRED, he stated that his technical background makes him a target for the PAC, claiming "The part that scares Trump's megadonors the most is that I actually understand AI." Bores believes that the best solution to regulating AI development lies in a federal bill that prioritizes safety and innovation.
However, Leading the Future has launched an aggressive campaign against Bores' bid for Congress. The PAC plans to spend millions of dollars on advertisements opposing Bores and other lawmakers who support state-level AI regulations. In response to questions from WIRED, Bores stated that he aims to show that he will not be cowed by the vast resources being spent against him.
Bores believes that the RAISE Act, which would empower New York's attorney general to bring civil penalties of up to $30 million against AI developers who fail to publish safety reports around their technology, is crucial in protecting the state and the country from potential harm. He stated, "The fundamental logic of the RAISE Act was that companies already made a bunch of voluntary commitments to safety." Bores emphasized that without economic incentives to prioritize safety, these commitments may be ignored.
Leading the Future's efforts have generated significant attention for Bores, who has become a prominent voice on AI safety in New York. As he faces the challenge posed by the super PAC, Bores aims to demonstrate his commitment to protecting New Yorkers and ensuring that technology works for them, rather than the other way around. The outcome of this battle between Bores and Leading the Future remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: AI safety has become a defining feature of his congressional campaign.
Bores' crusade against AI safety regulations is being seen as a threat to the companies involved. In an interview with WIRED, he stated that his technical background makes him a target for the PAC, claiming "The part that scares Trump's megadonors the most is that I actually understand AI." Bores believes that the best solution to regulating AI development lies in a federal bill that prioritizes safety and innovation.
However, Leading the Future has launched an aggressive campaign against Bores' bid for Congress. The PAC plans to spend millions of dollars on advertisements opposing Bores and other lawmakers who support state-level AI regulations. In response to questions from WIRED, Bores stated that he aims to show that he will not be cowed by the vast resources being spent against him.
Bores believes that the RAISE Act, which would empower New York's attorney general to bring civil penalties of up to $30 million against AI developers who fail to publish safety reports around their technology, is crucial in protecting the state and the country from potential harm. He stated, "The fundamental logic of the RAISE Act was that companies already made a bunch of voluntary commitments to safety." Bores emphasized that without economic incentives to prioritize safety, these commitments may be ignored.
Leading the Future's efforts have generated significant attention for Bores, who has become a prominent voice on AI safety in New York. As he faces the challenge posed by the super PAC, Bores aims to demonstrate his commitment to protecting New Yorkers and ensuring that technology works for them, rather than the other way around. The outcome of this battle between Bores and Leading the Future remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: AI safety has become a defining feature of his congressional campaign.
they're trying to silence this dude who just wants to make sure AI doesn't hurt us?! Bores seems like a total normal guy who actually understands tech and cares about people, unlike some of the shady guys behind Leading the Future 
. and seriously $100 million is insane! shouldn't we be talking about how to make tech work for everyone, not just lining pockets? 
This whole thing is wild 
. I mean, who knew being for AI safety regulations would make you a target for some major Silicon Valley players 
? It's like they're trying to silence someone just because they have a brain and some tech skills 
. Alex Bores seems like a legit candidate who actually understands what's going on with AI, so it's kinda cool that he's speaking out against these big companies 
. The RAISE Act is actually a pretty solid idea, btw - I mean, why should companies be allowed to just ignore safety protocols if they're gonna make a bunch of "voluntary" commitments? 
.
. The RAISE Act is a big deal for him cuz he thinks it'll keep companies accountable and not just ignore safety reports. It's like, corporations already agreed to be responsible, why do we need laws now? 
Bores might be in trouble, but at least he's standin up for what he believes in 
I'm low-key worried about our future with all these big companies pulling strings behind the scenes... like, who's gonna hold them accountable for the tech they create? 
. Can't let the special interests win out here 
!
and I'm loving that he's not backing down 
sounds like a real win-win to me