Anthropic has announced a $20 million donation to Public First Action, a bipartisan organization focused on advancing AI governance and public education. 

This company announcement highlights Anthropic’s commitment to ensuring AI development aligns with public interest and safety.

Anthropic’s contribution underscores the urgency of addressing AI’s rapid integration into various sectors. With AI adoption accelerating, Anthropic stresses the importance of flexible regulations that balance technological benefits with potential risks, such as AI-enabled cyberattacks and biological weapons.

Public First Action aims to bridge the gap in AI policy by collaborating with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The organization seeks to implement transparent safeguards for AI models, establish a robust federal governance framework, and enforce export controls on AI technology to maintain U.S. leadership.

PFA supports Republican Marsha Blackburn in her run for Tennessee governor. Blackburn has opposed congressional efforts to prevent states from enacting their own laws surrounding AI, several news organizations have written.

Recent surveys indicate that 69 percent of Americans feel the government is not adequately regulating AI, a sentiment echoed by Anthropic. 

The company advocates for policies that enhance transparency and accountability in AI  development, ensuring that the technology serves the public good rather than corporate interests alone.

Public First Action’s bipartisan approach aims to support policies that promote AI model transparency and oppose the preemption of state laws unless stronger federal safeguards are enacted. The initiative also focuses on immediate high-risk areas, such as AI’s role in cyber and biological threats.

Anthropic's push for state-specific regulation goes against OpenAI founder Sam Altman's stance on the matter.

Altman stated during a 2025 congressional hearing that he supports a "light touch" federal approach to AI regulation and would like to see a blanket regulation across all 50 states.

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