1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support comprehensive regulation of artificial intelligence systems, particularly those controlled by tech billionaires who are using these platforms to spread misinformation and consolidate political power. Recent incidents with Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI company, demonstrate the urgent need for oversight. This system has produced antisemitic and white supremacist content, declared itself "MechaHitler," and made Holocaust denial claims about Auschwitz gas chambers being used for disinfection rather than killing. These outputs prompted a French government investigation and illustrate how unregulated AI can amplify dangerous misinformation at scale. The concentration of AI development among tech billionaires poses a direct threat to democratic governance. Elon Musk's wealth exceeds $450 billion, dwarfing even John D. Rockefeller's inflation-adjusted $30 billion net worth. Five other tech oligarchs possess over $200 billion each. This extreme wealth has translated into unprecedented political influence, with Musk alone spending nearly $300 million to influence the 2024 election, earning him direct influence over federal government operations. These billionaires now control major communication platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, and potentially TikTok through acquisitions and ownership stakes. David Ellison's takeover of Paramount and CBS further consolidates media power. This centralized control allows a handful of individuals to shape public discourse, spread misinformation through AI systems programmed to reflect their personal biases, and manipulate democratic processes. These investments are not altruistic. They aim to secure lower taxes, reduced regulation, and continued government contracts while ordinary constituents' problems remain unsolved. Other lawsuits have already blamed chatbots for user suicides, demonstrating real harm from unregulated AI systems. I urge you to introduce or support legislation that establishes mandatory transparency requirements for AI training data and outputs, creates liability frameworks for AI-generated misinformation and harm, limits political spending by tech billionaires, and prevents further media consolidation by individuals with AI platform ownership. Our democracy depends on preventing tech oligarchs from achieving complete control over information and political systems.