Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
OpenAI policy chief urges AI agenda ahead of 2028 election
OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, is urging politicians to develop policies that address public concerns about AI ahead of the 2028 presidential election. He argues that AI could reshape the economy on a scale comparable to the New Deal and calls for a “compelling third path” that lets the public share in its benefits.
In an essay, Lehane sets out five priorities covering worker protections, education, AI safety and data centre development, among other areas. His proposals include tax incentives for AI skills, easier access to capital for entrepreneurs, and approaches to employee ownership and profit-sharing. Critics say the agenda still assumes widespread AI adoption, offers few binding safeguards for workers, and could support the infrastructure expansion OpenAI needs; opposition to data centres and anxiety about jobs, electricity bills and who gains from AI may feature more in the 2028 debate.
In short
- OpenAI is making AI policy a focus ahead of the 2028 election.
- Lehane proposes worker, education, safety and infrastructure measures.
- Critics say the proposals lack firm safeguards for sharing AI’s gains.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that AI may bring major economic and public benefits, and that politicians should shape its development before disruption outpaces policy. Lehane’s proposals offer a way to share gains through skills investment, worker protections, entrepreneurship and broader ownership, while addressing safety and infrastructure as part of a public agenda.
The case against
Critics could argue that this agenda starts from the assumption that widespread AI adoption and data-centre expansion should proceed, without setting sufficiently binding limits on risks to jobs, communities or energy costs. They may see skills programmes and profit-sharing as inadequate unless workers and the public have stronger protections and a meaningful say over who benefits and where infrastructure is built.
AI Americas Elections Politics Technology World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by TechCrunch as “OpenAI is already trying to shape the 2028 election”.