In a revealing interview with journalist Bari Weiss, prominent Silicon Valley investor Marc Andreessen shared that a series of meetings with Biden administration officials about artificial intelligence left him “very scared.” Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, described the meetings, which took place in May 2023, as “absolutely horrifying.” These encounters heavily influenced his decision to endorse Donald Trump, he said.

What Alarmed Andreessen About the Government’s Role in AI

Andreessen recounted concerns over the attitudes expressed by young government staffers, whom he characterized as “radicalized” and “out for blood.” According to him, their policy proposals aimed at aggressive regulation of the AI sector would be damaging to innovation and counterproductive to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Most alarming to Andreessen was the suggestion that the government should take a central role in AI, effectively becoming the market maker. This level of control implied to Andreessen that only companies willing to closely cooperate with the government would succeed, stifling competition and innovation. “They actually said flat out to us, ‘Don’t do AI startups, don’t fund AI startups,’” Andreessen claimed in his interview.

Andreessen’s Investments and the Potential Conflict

Given Andreessen’s significant investments in AI startups—including Elon Musk’s xAI, Mistral AI, and Character.AI—such government perspectives represent a direct threat to his interests. He has long positioned himself as a staunch opponent of heavy AI regulation.

In June 2023, even before the meetings with the administration, Andreessen published a manifesto titled “Why AI Will Save the World,” in which he laid out arguments against increased surveillance and regulation of artificial intelligence development.

Biden Administration’s AI Policy So Far

Despite Andreessen’s fears, the Biden administration’s enacted policies on AI have been relatively modest. In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed an executive order introducing a set of voluntary commitments for AI companies. Among the directives was a call for companies to share safety test results with the federal government and for Congress to investigate data collection practices used by AI developers.

Reaction from Silicon Valley was mixed. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged “some great parts” of the initiative, but warned, “it will be important not to slow down innovation by smaller companies/research teams.”

The Industry’s Growing Alignment With Trump

With the presidential race heating up, AI leaders are beginning to show stronger alignment with Trump’s agenda. Earlier this month, Trump announced that venture capitalist David Sacks would lead his administration’s approach to AI and cryptocurrency. This announcement was quickly followed by financial commitments from industry giants.

Both Sam Altman and AI search startup Perplexity pledged $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. In a statement to Bloomberg News, Altman stated, “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead.”

Marc Andreessen’s Increasing Involvement in Trump’s Tech Strategy

According to Andreessen, he now spends half his time at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and has played an informal role in transition planning. He confirmed speculation that he was involved in Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, calling himself an “unpaid volunteer.”

Andreessen also said he has participated in interviews for potential technology policy officials, offering guidance to a possible future Trump administration. He expressed optimism about Trump’s vision, quoting him as saying, “I don’t know much about tech, but I don’t need to, because you guys know a lot about it. You guys should go build tech companies. The American tech companies should win.”

Looking Ahead: AI, Regulation, and the Political Divide

The divide between Silicon Valley and Washington continues to widen, particularly around the future of AI innovation. While some policy makers advocate for stricter regulation to safeguard against biased algorithms and misinformation, industry leaders like Andreessen view these measures as existential threats to technological progress.

As the 2024 election approaches, AI policy has become a deeply political issue. Supporters of minimal regulation argue that restricting innovation could put the U.S. behind international competitors like China. Conversely, advocates for regulation emphasize the ethical risks and potential societal consequences of unchecked AI advancement.