Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is adopting a bold new approach to influence pro-crypto and AI regulation: financially backing political candidates who align with their tech-forward vision.
Ben Horowitz, a co-founder of the firm, outlined this strategy in a December 14 post. “We’re backing candidates who champion a technology-driven optimistic future. Those who seek to stifle key technologies will not have our support,” he wrote, emphasizing:
“Every dollar we contribute will be aimed at endorsing candidates who share our vision and opposing those who threaten America’s advanced technological progress.”
This marks a16z’s first official foray into lobbying to support tech-friendly politicians, although they previously hosted a fundraiser for a New York representative in October 2022, as reported by Forbes.
Horowitz particularly emphasized the transformative potential of blockchain and AI. He believes decentralized technologies can foster a more equitable and inclusive economy than current Big Tech models, and AI could elevate humanity to unprecedented living standards.
a16z has invested in several cryptocurrency startups, including Avalanche, Coinbase, Dapper Labs, Lido Finance, Nansen, OpenSea, Uniswap, and Worldcoin. Horowitz clarified his stance on regulation: while he supports “high-quality regulation” that balances industry growth with consumer protection, he criticizes “politicized regulation” for its potential to destroy industries.
“America’s brightest future hinges on maintaining our global lead in technology. The main threat to this is misguided regulatory policy,” Horowitz stated. He noted that while Big Tech firms have significant representation in Washington, D.C., their focus often lies more on maintaining monopolies than on advocating for balanced regulation.
In October, a16z published a “techno-optimist manifesto,” which received widespread criticism for some of its more extreme views, including the assertion that slowing down AI development through regulation could cost lives.
This perspective was challenged by figures like Jemima Kelly of the Financial Times, who argued against unchecked technological acceleration. In March 2023, over 2,600 tech leaders and researchers, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Steve Wozniak, signed a petition calling for a temporary halt to AI advancements, citing significant risks to society and humanity.
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