Two of the biggest names in artificial intelligence just wrote the biggest checks they have ever written to people in Washington.
OpenAI and Anthropic together spent $3.17 million lobbying the federal government in the second quarter of 2026, according to new filings. That represents a 23% increase from the first quarter. Anthropic's spending more than doubled from a year earlier, while OpenAI's nearly doubled.
Anthropic led the way with $1.97 million, a 26% increase from the previous quarter. OpenAI was not far behind at $1.2 million, up almost 18%.
OpenAI came within $50,000 of Nvidia's total of $1.25 million.
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These are not small players. The AI companies are acting like they belong in the same weight class.
Meanwhile, the big legacy tech companies known as the Magnificent 7 kept their lobbying spending almost flat. The Magnificent 7 tech giants collectively spent $21.25 million in Q2, essentially unchanged from $21.27 million in Q1. Meta remained the biggest spender at $5.99 million, even after cutting its budget by 15%. Google boosted its lobbying by 25%, and Microsoft raised its by nearly 13%.
Over in the defense world, the eight largest contractors pulled back, with their combined spending dropping 3.3% to $19.68 million. Lockheed Martin led at $4.18 million.
So why are OpenAI and Anthropic suddenly spending like tech giants that have been lobbying for decades?
Two big reasons. First, the U.S. midterm elections are coming up. Second, both companies are preparing for their initial public stock offerings. Their disclosure forms reveal that the companies engaged with policymakers on issues including data protection, intellectual property, online infrastructure, and government contracting.
This strategic ramp-up mirrors how established tech giants have long used lobbying to shape regulation, particularly as lawmakers debate AI safety, data privacy, and intellectual property rules. The fact that the AI companies are now outspending defense contractors like Lockheed Martin on a proportional basis underscores their determination to influence policy before going public.
The filings show OpenAI and Anthropic also addressed matters related to network security, authorship rights, server networks, and military purchasing. Cybersecurity and cloud computing relate to infrastructure and data security; copyright law affects how AI models are trained on public data; and defense procurement opens potential government contracts. By engaging early, OpenAI and Anthropic aim to shape the rules of the road before they become locked in by legislation.
This surge in lobbying comes as the AI industry faces a pivotal regulatory moment. With Congress debating bills on AI safety, data privacy, and copyright, early engagement allows companies to help draft rules that could define their business models for years. The midterm elections further heighten the stakes, as control of Congress could shift the regulatory landscape. For investors eyeing the upcoming IPOs, the spending signals that these firms view federal policy as a critical competitive factor.
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