Anthropic launches PAC amid AI policy tensions

Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has launched a political action committee, entering US election financing as debates over AI regulation and governance intensify.

The company filed with the Federal Election Commission to establish “AnthroPAC,” an employee-funded vehicle designed to support candidates from both major political parties.

The PAC will collect voluntary contributions from staff, with individual donations capped at $5,000 per election cycle under US law.

The move comes as Anthropic faces growing tensions with the Pentagon after being labelled a supply chain risk over its opposition to AI use in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.

Anthropic has challenged the designation in court, with a federal judge temporarily blocking the measure and halting related restrictions.

The company has already been active politically, including a $20 million contribution to Public First Action, a group focused on AI safety initiatives.

Separately, Anthropic is expanding its infrastructure footprint, with Google backing a potential $5 billion data centre project in Texas to support rising demand for AI computing capacity.