OpenAI Partners with AI Initiative Led by John Kerry’s Former Think Tank
OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, has partnered with a new AI initiative called AI 2030, which aims to shape the public dialogue about U.S. competition against China on AI. The initiative is led by the American Security Project (ASP), a think tank co-founded by outgoing Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
ASP has a history of promoting left-wing causes and has several board members aligned with Democrats. The organization has received funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, which has donated tens of millions of dollars to left-wing causes.
Kerry’s former chief of staff, David Wade, is a board member of ASP, as is former Obama Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who is also a board member, has publicly opposed Trump’s tariff policies.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s Head of Global Policy, has a history of promoting Democratic Party causes. He is the author of the infamous “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” memo and has contributed to Democratic politicians, including former Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Adam Schiff.
Altman has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats and Democratic groups, including $1 million to the Democratic National Committee. He has also hosted fundraisers for Democratic presidential candidates and has donated to state Democratic parties and top Democrats in the House and Senate.
The AI 2030 initiative has been criticized by some, including Elon Musk, who has expressed concerns about OpenAI’s leadership and the potential risks of AI. Musk has also accused Altman of promoting a “woke virus” in OpenAI’s products.
Despite the controversy, OpenAI is continuing to pursue defense contracts with the U.S. military. A spokesperson for OpenAI stated that the company is committed to helping the U.S. maintain its competitive edge against China in the development of AI.
An ASP spokesperson denied any partisan bias, stating that the organization is committed to producing high-quality research and forging bipartisan consensus on emerging threats to national security.
