Meta Begins $65 Million State Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda

Meta is preparing to spend $65 million this year to boost state politicians who are friendly to the artificial intelligence industry, beginning this week in Texas and Illinois. It is the company’s largest election investment; previously Meta made smaller donations through a corporate political action committee and allowed executives, including Sheryl Sandberg, to support candidates in their personal capacities.

The company is quietly starting two new super PACs: Forge the Future Project to back Republicans and Making Our Tomorrow to back Democrats. Those groups join two others Meta already started — one focused on California and an umbrella organization that finances spending in other states — bringing an initial budget for the four super PACs to $65 million.

Meta generally favors supporting incumbents or engaging in open races rather than trying to unseat sitting officials. In Texas, where Meta has three A.I. data center projects, Forge the Future Project is preparing to back Republican legislators, officials and candidates.

United States, Texas, Illinois

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