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The Washington Examiner reported that the Tarbell Center and METR have funding and personnel ties to Anthropic backers, while The Alaska Story confirmed that METR executive director Emma Jane Abele and six Anthropic employees donated $442,000 to Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins’s campaign.
The Washington Examiner published a national investigation into the funding sources of organizations that warn about artificial intelligence risks. The report identified funding and personnel connections between the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism and Model Evaluation and Threat Research (METR) and individuals who played roles in the rise of Anthropic.
The Alaska Story, a local outlet, provided specific details on the Alaska connection. It reported that Emma Jane Abele, identified by METR as its executive director, contributed a combined $70,000 to Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins’s campaign for governor. This information was previously reported by The Alaska Story in July.
The financial ties extend beyond Abele. The Alaska Story identified six Anthropic employees who contributed a combined $372,000 to Kreiss-Tomkins between February and May. Notable individual gifts included $100,000 from Anthropic employee Drake Thomas and $70,000 from employee Jan Leike. Thomas, who grew up in Kenai, has stated that he introduced Kreiss-Tomkins to other people at Anthropic.
The Washington Examiner traced ties between Tarbell and METR and figures including Anthropic early backers Dustin Moskovitz and Jaan Tallinn, as well as AI researcher Paul Christiano. Tarbell publicly lists Coefficient Giving, formerly known as Open Philanthropy, as a major funder. These institutional relationships have raised questions about the independence of these groups when they contribute to public debate over AI risks and regulation.
Forrás részletei: thealaskastory.com ↗
Miért számít
This financial connection is significant because Kreiss-Tomkins has proposed a moratorium on new data centers in Alaska until comprehensive regulations are adopted. The substantial contributions from individuals working in the and development sectors suggest a direct alignment between national AI policy interests and local infrastructure governance, potentially influencing how the state regulates emerging AI infrastructure.
The convergence of financial support and policy positions is notable because Kreiss-Tomkins has proposed a moratorium on new Alaska data centers until the state Legislature adopts comprehensive regulations. This places AI infrastructure policy squarely in the governor’s race.
The substantial personal contributions from people working in the national field and Anthropic indicate a shared policy interest. The Examiner report adds context to a wealthy donor network already visible in Kreiss-Tomkins’s race, suggesting that national AI policy debates are influencing local electoral dynamics.
The investigation highlights how funding relationships between organizations and major AI companies may impact public discourse on AI regulation. The question of how these relationships are disclosed when organizations spend millions to elect certain people to office is now a central concern in the narrative.
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Mit nézzünk ezután
Monitor whether Kreiss-Tomkins’s data center moratorium proposal gains legislative traction and if other AI industry figures increase political contributions to candidates with similar regulatory platforms.
Watch for legislative developments in Alaska regarding the proposed moratorium on new data centers and the adoption of comprehensive AI infrastructure regulations.
Monitor further disclosures of financial contributions from AI industry employees and safety organization leaders to political campaigns in states with significant data center infrastructure.
Observe how the Washington Examiner’s findings influence public perception of the independence of organizations and their role in shaping regulatory policy.