Group funded by Andreessen, Horowitz and Brockman plans data center ads ahead of US midterms
A new organization called Build American AI plans a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in three US states to convince voters of the benefits of hosting data centers ahead of the midterm elections. The group is linked to super PAC Leading the Future, backed by investors Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman.
A new advocacy group, Build American AI, has launched a campaign aimed at convincing American voters of the benefits of having data centers built near their communities. Several outlets, including Bloomberg, report that the group is affiliated with Leading the Future (LTF), a prominent pro-AI super PAC financially backed by venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, along with OpenAI President Greg Brockman.
Build American AI intends to focus its advertising on Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin, states where data centers have become a central issue in statewide elections. The campaign's budget is reported to be in the millions of dollars.
Ties to Leading the Future
LTF launched with more than $50 million in funding, most of which has gone toward donations to specific political candidates. The group backs candidates who support AI development while working to oppose those who lobby against the technology.
LTF has become a well-known, if not particularly popular, force in AI-related election politics — so much so that OpenAI publicly distanced itself from the group in June, stating it does not direct LTF's activities or have visibility into its operations. OpenAI also criticized some of the tactics used by AI advocacy groups more broadly, calling for transparency about policy positions and warning against astroturfing — presenting paid, organized campaigns as grassroots movements.
Broader political spending
LTF is not the only super PAC of its kind backed by major Silicon Valley figures. Anthropic, for example, supports Public First Action, a group advocating for AI regulation. Meanwhile, Andreessen and Horowitz's venture firm, Andreessen Horowitz, has emerged as the largest donor to the midterm elections so far, having contributed more than $115 million in disclosed federal funds — surpassing high-profile donors such as Elon Musk and George Soros. The firm is also a major backer of pro-crypto efforts, including through the super PAC Fairshake.
