Top US technology companies including Google, Meta, Amazon, OpenAI and Anthropic are now spending millions on lobbying, a sharp rise compared to previous years, reported Axios. The increased spending comes as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a key policy issue. As per the report, these firms are engaging with lawmakers on topics such as AI regulation, national security and infrastructure. A sharp ‘competition’ in lobby spending can be seen between Anthropic and OpenAI who “hardly spent time in Washington just years ago” are now “joining the ranks of more seasoned tech companies shelling out millions”.
How much Anthropic, OpenAI spent on lobbying
As per the report, Anthropic spent $1.6 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2026, up from $360,000 in the same period last year. OpenAI spent $1 million, compared to $560,000 a year earlier.
Meta tops big tech lobbying spending
Despite the rise in AI firms’ spending, larger companies continue to dominate lobbying. As per the data cited by Axios, Meta spent $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2026, leading the overall spend. It is followed by Amazon at $4.4 million and Google at $2.9 million.Other companies such as Microsoft also remained active in policy discussions during the period. “Both AMD and Nvidia lobbied on export control rule changes and kept spending steady from last year’s levels,” the report said. In addition, industry groups such as the Data Center Coalition increased their spending, reflecting growing interest in infrastructure needed to support AI systems.
Key issues discussed with lawmakers
According to filings, companies are focusing on a wide range of topics. Anthropic discussed AI procurement, national security, export controls and supply chain risks with lawmakers. The company has also been involved in discussions related to its policies on how AI systems should be used.OpenAI, in its most expensive lobbying quarter so far, raised issues around AI and copyright, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and computing systems. Meanwhile, Meta and Google focused on data privacy, encryption, cross-border data flows and child safety laws. Microsoft discussed areas such as AI in education, digital trade, cloud services and software patents.
