Tech billionaires and AI firms are backing a $125M political push against New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, a former Palantir engineer now advocating AI transparency laws.
A Tech Insider Turned AI Regulator Target
A coalition of Silicon Valley investors and AI companies is pouring millions into political ads targeting New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, a former Palantir executive now running for Congress.
The ads accuse Bores of helping build technology used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation operations.
But Bores disputes that narrative.
- He says he quit Palantir in 2019 specifically over its ICE work
- He argues the ads distort his history to undermine his campaign
Now the controversy is colliding with a much bigger fight: who gets to shape the future of AI regulation in the United States.
The $125 Million Super PAC Campaign
The attacks are funded by a super PAC called Leading the Future, which has raised $125 million to influence state and federal elections involving AI policy.
The group is backed by prominent technology investors and companies.
Key supporters include:
- Joe Lonsdale, Palantir co-founder
- Greg Brockman, OpenAI president
- Andreessen Horowitz
- Perplexity AI
According to Bores, the PAC has committed at least $10 million specifically to defeat him.
“They’re targeting me to make an example of me,” Bores said.
The goal, he argues, is to deter lawmakers who push for stronger AI oversight.
Why Silicon Valley Is Pushing Back
Bores has become a focal point in the policy debate after sponsoring the RAISE Act, a transparency-focused AI law signed in December.
The legislation requires large AI labs — specifically those generating more than $500 million in revenue — to meet several obligations:
- Publish a public safety plan
- Follow that plan in development and deployment
- Report any catastrophic safety incidents
Compared with regulations in other sectors, the law is relatively light.
It focuses on disclosure and safety planning, rather than direct restrictions on AI development.
Yet even that level of oversight has triggered strong opposition from parts of Silicon Valley.
The Federal vs. State Regulation Battle
Behind the political spending lies a deeper policy fight.
AI companies have increasingly argued that regulation should occur only at the federal level, not through state laws.
Over the past year, however, U.S. states have moved aggressively to regulate AI in the absence of national standards.
In December, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to challenge state laws deemed overly burdensome — including measures like Bores’ RAISE Act.
For AI companies, the concern is a patchwork of rules.
For regulators, the risk is letting a fast-moving technology operate without meaningful oversight.
Silicon Valley’s Growing Political War Chest
Leading the Future is only one example of tech’s expanding political influence.
Major technology firms are dramatically increasing spending in state and federal elections tied to AI policy.
Recent contributions include:
- Meta investing $65 million into two super PACs backing tech-friendly candidates
- AI companies and executives donating at least $83 million to federal campaigns in 2025
For comparison, Bores notes that a typical New York Assembly race raises around $100,000 total.
That gap illustrates how dramatically the scale of tech spending has changed.
A Divided Tech Industry on AI Governance
Not all tech players oppose regulation.
Bores’ campaign is receiving support from Public First Action, a PAC backed by Anthropic, which has pledged $450,000 to support him.
The group describes itself as pro-AI but pro-safety, emphasizing transparency and oversight rather than a hands-off approach.
Inside tech companies themselves, employees are increasingly split over how AI should be developed and deployed.
Some push for stronger ethical guardrails, while others argue regulation could slow innovation.
The Middle Ground Americans Are Looking For
Bores argues the debate often gets framed as a binary choice.
On one side are those who want to let AI evolve with minimal restrictions.
On the other are critics who want to halt AI development entirely.
Most Americans, he says, fall somewhere in between.
People see the promise of AI—but also worry about its speed and impact.
The real question may be simple: Can governments keep pace with technology powerful enough to reshape entire industries?
TL;DR
Tech billionaires and AI companies are funding a $125M super PAC campaign targeting New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, a former Palantir engineer pushing AI transparency laws. The fight highlights a broader clash between Silicon Valley’s push for minimal regulation and growing political efforts to oversee AI development.
