OpenAI и Anthropic обошли Nvidia по лоббизму в Вашингтоне за II квартал 2026

OpenAI and Anthropic set a record in the second quarter of 2026 for spending on federal lobbying in the US: together they directed $3.17 million toward work with authorities — 23% more than in the first quarter. This was reported by CNBC, citing official disclosure reports.

How much the labs spent

OpenAI and Anthropic together spent $3.17 million on lobbying in Washington in April–June 2026 — a record for both companies. The bulk of this amount came from Anthropic: $1.97 million, up 26% from the previous quarter. OpenAI accounts for about $1.2 million — the remainder of the combined spending.

• Q2 2026 (April–June): combined spending — $3.17 million, +23% vs Q1
• Anthropic — $1.97 million, up 26%
• OpenAI — about $1.2 million
• Both companies surpassed Nvidia in lobbying spending in Washington
• The data is cited by CNBC based on official lobbying disclosure reports

Why startups are outpacing giants

Anthropic, one of the youngest players in the market, spent more on lobbying than Nvidia — one of the most valuable chipmakers in the world. According to CNBC, in the second quarter of 2026 both OpenAI and Anthropic surpassed Nvidia in spending on engagement with US federal authorities for the first time.

For relatively young companies, this is a sharp reversal: just a couple of years ago AI labs were barely present on the Washington agenda, and specialized GR spending was traditionally handled by mature technology and semiconductor corporations. A 23–26% increase in a single quarter shows how quickly young AI companies are building up their political presence.

"OpenAI and Anthropic now spend more on lobbying in Washington than Nvidia,"

CNBC reports, citing quarterly lobbying disclosure reports.

Why AI companies need lobbying

AI labs are increasing their lobbying budgets amid ongoing debate over rules for artificial intelligence in the US. How model training, copyright, safety, and technology exports will be regulated has a direct impact on the business of OpenAI and Anthropic — which is why both companies are working to influence the wording of future regulations.

The combined $3.17 million per quarter is still a modest sum by the standards of the largest US corporations, but the pace matters more than the absolute figure: record levels and double-digit growth suggest that the AI sector is becoming an independent political force in Washington.

What this means

AI labs are buying themselves a seat at the table: by outspending Nvidia on lobbying, OpenAI and Anthropic are signaling that they intend to help write the rules the entire industry will have to live by. AI regulation is no longer an abstraction — a financial battle over it is already underway.

FAQ

How much did

OpenAI and Anthropic spend on lobbying in Q2 2026?

Together — $3.17 million, 23% more than in the first quarter. Of that, $1.97 million came from Anthropic (up 26%) and about $1.2 million from OpenAI.

Is it true that they surpassed Nvidia?

Yes. According to CNBC, in the second quarter of 2026 both OpenAI and Anthropic surpassed Nvidia in spending on federal lobbying in Washington for the first time.