OpenAI is positioning AI as a central issue in the 2028 election

OpenAI is treating artificial intelligence as a major part of the political debate ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Chris Lehane, the company’s chief global affairs officer, has argued that AI could help define the contest.

In a personal essay, Lehane describes the election as an opening to build a new social contract for an era shaped by artificial intelligence. He compares the economic changes associated with AI to the transformation addressed through Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

The essay lays out five questions for candidates who are developing an AI agenda. Its priorities include the effects of technological change on workers, education, safeguards for artificial-intelligence systems and the growth of data-center infrastructure.

Lehane also calls for expanding infrastructure while protecting children and maintaining human judgment. OpenAI’s proposals could support wider adoption of AI and additional infrastructure development.

The essay is part of a broader effort by OpenAI to influence the political discussion surrounding artificial intelligence. Axios reported that the company planned a policy and public-relations campaign after the midterm elections, with the goal of shaping how presidential contenders address AI in 2028.

OpenAI has also promoted a federal approach to AI safety. The company has called for mandatory national safety requirements and said it supports selected state safety legislation while federal action remains pending. Its proposals include industry standards, independent evaluations and protections for advanced AI systems.

Taken together, the company’s policy positions and Lehane’s essay connect several issues that candidates may face in the AI debate: economic disruption, education, child protection, human decision-making, safety rules and the infrastructure needed to develop the technology. The effort gives OpenAI a defined position in discussions over how the next presidential field should approach artificial intelligence.