OpenAI hires Chuck Schumer's daughter as Big Tech cozies up to Democrats ahead of midterms: report

Key Points:

• OpenAI has hired Jessica Schumer, daughter of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for a senior policy role focused on government outreach and partnerships in Northeastern states, amid Silicon Valley's efforts to strengthen ties with Democrats before the midterm elections.
• Jessica Schumer, formerly Amazon’s top public-policy official in New York and with experience in the Obama White House and Democratic campaigns, will avoid involvement in federal policy or direct engagement with her father's office to prevent conflicts of interest.
• This move is part of a broader bipartisan strategy by OpenAI and other tech companies, who are preparing for potential Democratic control of the House and increased congressional scrutiny by hiring officials with ties to both parties.
• AI companies and their backers are investing heavily in congressional races across party lines to influence emerging AI policy, while tech giants like Meta are also donating to political groups aligned with both Democrats and Republicans in anticipation of the 2024 elections.
• Other tech firms, including Kalshi, are similarly balancing their political outreach by hiring advisers from both Democratic and Republican backgrounds to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding AI and technology.