Billionaire-backed Horizon AI fellowship network embeds advisers across US government to prioritize existential risk policy
By
Brendan Bordelon
A baker's-dozen of insight crammed into one ring.
Summary
A billionaire-backed network of AI advisers, organized through the Horizon Fellowship program, has embedded staff across Congress, federal agencies, and think tanks. These fellows, funded by Open Philanthropy (backed by billionaires like Dustin Moskovitz), are pushing policymakers to prioritize AI existential risk and apocalyptic scenarios at the top of the legislative agenda. This focus potentially sidelines other pressing AI concerns like bias, privacy, and labor displacement, while benefiting major AI companies with ties to the network. Key senators including Schumer's top AI lieutenants and Sen. Blumenthal have Horizon fellows working on AI policy.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledCurrent and former Horizon AI fellows with salaries funded by Open Ph
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's top three lieutenants on AI legislation — Sens. Martin Heinrich, Mike Rounds and Todd Young — each have a Horizon fellow working on AI or biosecurity
The office of Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a powerful member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who recently unveiled plans for an AI licensing regime, includes a Horizon AI fellow who worked at OpenAI immediately before coming to Congress
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