OpenAI Opens Washington Office Wednesday as AI Lobbying Doubles in One Year; Quarter of 13,000 Federal Lobbyists Now Handle AI Issues

The percentage of US federal lobbyists focused on AI has more than doubled in a single year, according to a New York Times analysis. Twenty-five percent of the 13,000 registered federal lobbyists now handle AI-related issues, up from 11% in 2023. The shift signals the intensifying scramble by technology companies to shape federal AI policy before comprehensive regulation takes shape.

OpenAI is scheduled to open its Washington office on Wednesday, marking a direct physical presence in the capital for one of the most influential AI companies. Anthropic is also establishing a Washington foothold. Both companies are ramping up lobbying expenditures and hiring staff with deep Capitol Hill connections. The coordinated push into federal lobbying comes as Congress considers legislation addressing AI safety, liability, and data governance—issues that could define the operating landscape for the industry for years to come.

The doubling of AI-focused lobbying activity reflects heightened concern among major technology firms that regulatory frameworks being developed in Washington could either constrain or advantage their market positions. Unlike earlier lobbying efforts centered on broad technology policy, the current wave targets specific AI governance questions where the stakes are measured in billions of dollars and competitive moats. The timing of OpenAI's office opening suggests urgency: mid-2024 legislative sessions are expected to advance bills that could establish federal standards for AI deployment across industries including healthcare, finance, and defense contracting.