Research warns that AI giants are adopting tobacco firms’ policy playbook - PublicTechnology

A new report published by researchers has found that large AI companies are using policy influence techniques borrowed from the tobacco, oil, and pharmaceutical industries. The report identifies examples of 'corporate capture,' including what it terms 'narrative capture,' where companies seek to control the regulatory debate by framing the conversation on their own terms. The researchers detail how these strategies have been historically employed by other industries to delay or dilute regulation.

The report argues that AI companies are adopting a 'playbook' of tactics, such as funding sympathetic research, cultivating relationships with policymakers, and shaping media narratives to present their activities in a favorable light. The researchers warn that these approaches could lead to weak or ineffective regulation of the AI sector, allowing potential harms to go unaddressed.

The publication of the report comes amid growing global efforts to establish governance frameworks for artificial intelligence. It highlights the need for policymakers to be aware of such influence strategies to ensure that regulation is robust and serves the public interest. The report's authors call for greater transparency in the relationship between AI companies and the policy process.