OpenAI Poaches Top Lobbyist From Amazon Amid AI Regulation Fears
OpenAI has made significant hires to its political staff in recent weeks, including Jessica Schumer, who is leaving her post at Amazon to oversee policy and partnerships across the Northeast for OpenAI.
Schumer's move from Amazon is notable because she was directing the company's public policy efforts in New York. Her departure may indicate that Amazon has lost a top-tier talent in the influence peddling business, as Schumer's father, Chuck Schumer, is the Senate Minority Leader and has significant ties to both Wall Street and Silicon Valley.
The AI industry is facing growing criticism from lawmakers and the public over concerns about energy costs, environmental harms, surveillance, and mass unemployment. OpenAI and Anthropic are seeking to scale up government contracts, particularly in the defense sector, and head off AI regulation. The company has hired Schumer for Northeast operations at the state level, where AI's influence has grown.
The move suggests that OpenAI is 'in win now' mode, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability. The company is betting on its LLMs (Large Language Models) and needs to build relationships with policymakers to secure government contracts and head off regulation.