OpenAI outlines policy agenda ahead of 2028 US election
OpenAI executive Chris Lehane is calling for a new federal framework for AI, citing the 1930s New Deal as a model for addressing economic anxiety related to the technology.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, has published an essay advocating for a strategic shift in how US policymakers approach artificial intelligence ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Lehane suggests that leaders must move beyond current anti-AI sentiment to develop a policy framework that allows the public to benefit from technological advancements.
Drawing parallels to the New Deal enacted during the Great Depression, Lehane outlines five priority areas, including worker protections, education reform, and strategies for expanding infrastructure such as data centers. This approach marks a departure from the company’s previous lobbying efforts, which primarily focused on accelerating development and reducing regulatory hurdles.
However, industry analysts warn that the proposals serve to advance OpenAI’s corporate objectives. Kate Brennan, a researcher at the AI Now Institute, stated that the use of New Deal rhetoric by a private entity seeking to influence public policy is problematic. Critics argue that while the plan emphasizes potential benefits, it provides insufficient clarity regarding corporate accountability for the economic disruption caused by widespread AI adoption.