AI safety groups are expressing strong doubts about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's recent change in stance regarding political spending. Despite Altman's acknowledgment of potential missteps in campaign contributions by industry-aligned groups, critics demand more substantial changes.

The skepticism stems from a series of political maneuvers involving substantial sums of money. Altman conceded that contributions from pro-AI groups, such as the OpenAI-aligned Leading the Future super PAC, might have been counterproductive. This admission follows a New York Times report indicating that OpenAI President Greg Brockman halted further funding to Leading the Future earlier this year, labeling the super PAC's activities as distracting from the company’s objectives.

Democratic New York assemblymember Alex Bores, a prominent advocate for AI regulation, remains unconvinced. "I won’t believe that they are actually changing their strategy, or their goals I should say, unless and until they do," Bores stated, reflecting on the $8 million spent against his campaign by pro-AI groups. Despite these setbacks, Bores recently initiated a $30 million effort to consolidate Democratic support for AI policies.

Critics argue that OpenAI's leadership distancing themselves from Leading the Future does not signify a broader industry shift away from using financial clout to influence policy. "What I read it as is they are no longer — or Greg Brockman in particular is not — going to fund Leading the Future," Bores explained. "Does that mean that the industry is not going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to influence policy and get benefits on their way? No."

Charlie Blaettler, political director at Guardrails Alliance, echoed these concerns, questioning why Democratic candidates would continue accepting funds from a group now deemed too controversial by its own founders. "If it’s too toxic for Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, why are Democrats still taking their money?" he challenged.

The article also highlights the broader context of AI-related political spending. Leading the Future and its rival super PAC network Public First have spent over $70 million this election cycle, according to FEC data. Such figures underscore the ongoing battle over AI policy and regulation, with significant funds flowing from various factions within the tech industry.

Despite some candidates distancing themselves from direct contributions, the broader issue of AI-centric political spending remains contentious. Brendan Steinhauser, leading the AI safety group The Alliance for Secure AI Action, suggested that industry leaders like Altman could take more decisive action to curtail political donations. "They could do a unilateral disarmament or encourage other labs to stop giving, and maybe it’d be just like pacing the frontier — maybe people could pace political giving," Steinhauser proposed.

The dialogue continues as stakeholders from various quarters, including former Democratic Rep. Brad Carson, co-founder of Public First, express willingness to discuss scaling back political expenditures. However, the appetite for spending among influential figures suggests that significant financial influence in AI policy debates is likely to persist.