The U.S. federal government is facing major lobbying efforts as AI startups increase their commitments and pile on the pressure. This comes just months ahead of the 2024 presidential election, as those in the AI industry aim to get the future leader on their side. The number of groups lobbying the federal government on issues related to AI has risen from 459 in 2023 to 556 in the first half of 2024, according to new data from OpenSecrets. With this figure accounting for January to July, a further increase in the numbers could be expected. The data shows that the most prominent AI startups have begun to focus on improving lobbying efforts and initiatives. OpenAI and Anthropic increase spending on lobbying The company behind the infamous ChatGPT, OpenAI, has significantly increased its lobbying spending, with $800,000 going towards this in the first six months of 2024.