AI Industry Eyes Crypto’s Political Playbook as Midterm Elections Near

Introduction: A New Power Player Enters U.S. Politics

The race to influence U.S. elections is changing, and this time, artificial intelligence is at the center of it.

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the AI industry is quietly building political power. In fact, it appears to be following a familiar path that has already proven successful by the crypto industry during the 2024 election cycle.

With new AI-focused super PACs raising massive funds and backing friendly candidates, the question is no longer if AI will shape politics, but how far that influence will go.

From Crypto to AI: A Proven Political Strategy

In 2024, the crypto industry showed how effective political lobbying could be when done strategically.

The crypto-friendly super PAC Fairshake became the largest corporate political donor of the election cycle. It supported more than 50 candidates who eventually won public office. Instead of selling crypto directly to voters, Fairshake focused on targeted messaging — funding ads that appealed to local concerns like border security, inflation, and foreign competition.

Now, the AI industry is taking notes.

A new super PAC called Leading the Future (LTF) has emerged, backed by influential Silicon Valley names, including:

• Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz (a16z)

• OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman

• Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale

• AI startup Perplexity

• Meta, which launched its own AI-focused PAC late last year

Like crypto before it, AI is preparing a large political war chest for the 2026 elections.

Why AI Is a Bigger Political Issue Than Crypto

While crypto gained attention mainly among investors and tech-savvy users, AI affects almost everyone.

Public concern around AI is growing fast — especially around:

• Job losses

• Data privacy

• Bias in decision-making

• Speed of adoption

Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently called AI “the issue of our time,” saying it could dominate elections not just in 2026, but also in 2028.

Recent surveys support this view:

• Pew Research shows more Americans are worried than excited about AI

• Gallup data shows many people see AI as a threat rather than an opportunity

This makes AI a more emotionally charged political topic than crypto ever was.

Wall Street Optimism vs Public Fear

There is a clear gap between how the public sees AI and how corporate leaders view it.

Investors remain highly optimistic, with AI continuing to drive stock market gains. But everyday people are far more cautious.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon admitted AI could move faster than society is ready for. While he said companies won’t suddenly fire workers, he also suggested that fewer jobs may exist five years from now.

This tension between economic growth and social impact is exactly where AI lobbying efforts are focusing.

What AI Super PACs Say They Want

According to Leading the Future, its mission is to promote “pro-innovation AI policy” at both the state and federal levels.

The group aims to:

• Support candidates who favor AI development

• Push back against strict state-level regulations

• Keep the U.S. competitive against China in AI leadership

Meta echoed this view, saying inconsistent state rules could hurt American innovation and investment.

In simple terms: the AI industry wants fewer barriers, faster growth, and more political allies.

State Laws vs Federal Power: A Growing Conflict

One major concern for AI companies is the rise of state-level AI regulations.

New York’s RAISE Act (Responsible AI Safety and Education) became a key battleground. LTF strongly opposed the bill, calling it bureaucratic and harmful to U.S. progress. Despite that pressure, the law was Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in December.

At the same time, former President Trump issued an executive order aimed at limiting state control over AI policy. Legal experts say the order may not hold up in court, but it still signals strong industry alignment with federal deregulation.

Echoes of the Crypto Playbook

Just like crypto in 2024, AI super PACs are unlikely to sell AI directly as a campaign issue.

Instead, expect:

• Messaging around China and national security

• Economic competitiveness

• Innovation and job creation

• Fear of falling behind globally

In the Ohio Senate race, crypto-backed groups spent nearly $800,000 a day not talking about crypto, but about border security and China. The strategy worked.

AI lobbying appears to be heading in the same direction.

Not a Red vs Blue Issue

One important detail: AI lobbying is not strictly partisan.

Tech-friendly candidates exist on both sides of the aisle. Even in states dominated by one party, super PACs tend to focus on individual races rather than party loyalty.

Industry experts say this makes AI influence harder to track and potentially more powerful.

Risk of Public Backlash

While money brings influence, it also brings risk.

Political analysts warn that aggressive spending by tech billionaires could spark public resentment, especially if voters feel their concerns about jobs and privacy are being ignored.

AI may win policy battles, but it could lose public trust if people believe decisions are being bought rather than debated.

Final Thoughts: A Defining Test for AI Politics

The rise of AI super PACs marks a turning point.

Like crypto before it, the AI industry is learning how to shape elections without putting itself front and center. But unlike crypto, AI touches daily life from work to healthcare to education.

That makes this moment more sensitive, more visible, and potentially more controversial.

As 2026 approaches, the real test won’t just be how much money AI spends but whether it can balance innovation with public Confidence.