The AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic are recruiting former officials from Donald Trump’s administrations to strengthen their relationships with the White House. CNBC reports.
During the year, Anthropic has recruited at least two former Trump staffers, one to its board and one to oversee strategy for advanced computing capacity. OpenAI has meanwhile hired at least three people for strategic roles and special projects.
The recruitment is taking place as AI technology is increasingly regarded as a national security issue and demands for regulation are growing. The White House has significant influence over the industry through, among other things, public procurement and export restrictions.
Michelle Nie Duncan, a researcher at the think tank Center for a New American Security, believes that the conflict between Anthropic and the Trump administration showed how important it is for AI companies to have good relations with the White House. The Pentagon previously designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk, a decision that was upheld by a federal appeals court in September following a public conflict between the parties.
OpenAI referred to previous statements about two of its recruits, while Anthropic and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
