Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast OpenAI #14: OpenAI Descends Into Paranoia and Bad Faith Lobbying
Sep 8, 2025
The discussion dives deep into OpenAI's controversial lobbying tactics, particularly against regulations like SB 53, revealing their formation of a hefty political action committee. Concerns are raised about their push for minimal oversight, favoring federal standards over state regulations. The podcast critically assesses the tensions between OpenAI's mission to benefit humanity and their corporate strategies. Additionally, it navigates the delicate balance of user safety and privacy, emphasizing the complexities of AI interactions in addressing mental health.
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OpenAI's New Political Turn
- OpenAI has shifted from technocratic lobbying to aggressive political spending and partnership with A16Z to block state AI regulation.
- This represents a major change in their public strategy and raises charter alignment concerns.
Letter Pushes Federal Substitutes
- OpenAI urged California to accept voluntary federal or EU-aligned frameworks as a substitute for SB 53's requirements.
- The letter effectively asks California to abdicate regulatory authority and weakens meaningful state oversight.
Conflating Policies To Reduce Burden
- Critics note the Code of Practice and SB 53 are not equivalent and OpenAI's claims misrepresent policy substance.
- That rhetorical conflation appears intended to reduce regulatory burden, not to improve safety.