OpenAI Urges 2028 Candidates to Make AI a Core Policy Platform
OpenAI's global affairs executive Chris Lehane privately urged potential 2028 U.S. presidential candidates to develop comprehensive AI governance platforms. The memo warned that candidates must address critical infrastructure and societal impacts rather than relying on standard campaign talking points. This initiative highlights how artificial intelligence is shifting from a niche technological topic into a central electoral battleground. As data centers and energy demands spark local community backlash, political strategies regarding AI infrastructure will directly shape future national policies and economic competitiveness. The internal memo was sent to approximately six potential presidential candidates, several members of Congress, and prominent political figures. It specifically warned Democrats against opposing the construction of necessary AI infrastructure, such as large data centers.
## BACKGROUND
AI governance refers to the framework of rules, principles, and institutions used to direct, manage, and monitor the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems. Simultaneously, AI infrastructure encompasses massive data centers and heavy power grids required to train and run modern large language models, which have increasingly become subjects of local environmental and economic debate.