OpenAI is already looking past the current political cycle and toward 2028. Chris Lehane, the company's policy and communications strategist, said he wants AI to define the next presidential election and is floating a new social contract that he argues would benefit Americans. The proposal would also advance OpenAI's own commercial interests, a combination that is likely to draw scrutiny from regulators and rivals.
The timing is notable. AI policy groups spent heavily in the 2026 midterms, and the industry is learning how to translate money into influence. Lehane's framing suggests OpenAI wants to set the terms of the debate before candidates define their own positions, rather than reacting to proposals written by others.
A social contract for the AI era could cover job transitions, access to tools, data rights and safety rules. Each of those topics carries direct consequences for OpenAI's products and revenue. Critics will ask whether a company that builds the technology should also help write the rules that govern it, while supporters say firms with frontline knowledge should have a seat at the table.
The 2028 race is still far off, but groundwork for presidential elections is laid years in advance. OpenAI's early move shows that the fight over AI regulation will be fought in campaigns, not just in Congress, and that the company intends to be a participant rather than a bystander.