Nvidia Establishes PAC to Shape AI Industry Policy in Washington

Nvidia has formed its own political action committee (PAC) to influence policy decisions in Washington, as the company warns that upcoming Congressional actions could have significant consequences for the AI industry.

The PAC, which was registered with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, will collect voluntary contributions from eligible Nvidia employees and direct them towards federal candidates and party committees that align with Nvidia's interests. These include AI regulations, export controls, education, infrastructure spending, and workforce policy.

Nvidia has already expanded its political operation significantly, spending over $2.5 million on federal lobbying this year, up from the same period last year. The company also hired Bruce Andrews as chief external affairs officer in June, who previously headed government affairs at Intel and served as deputy secretary at the U.S. Commerce Department.

The establishment of a PAC allows Nvidia to collect voluntary contributions from employees, which can then be directed towards candidates and party committees without being subject to corporate spending limits or disclosure requirements. However, this move is also met with growing resistance from lawmakers, with over 270 House and Senate candidates pledging to reject corporate PAC contributions.