The Midas Project launches Model Republic, a new publication investigating the AI lobby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 8 — Today, The Midas Project launched Model Republic, a publication investigating the AI lobby's influence on policy and regulation. The initial report examines Andreessen Horowitz's efforts to shape AI policy alongside the firm's track record of backing companies involved in consumer harm and regulatory violations.

The report, “Andreessen Horowitz is shaping AI policy — while investing in a bleak vision of the future,” documents eighteen of a16z’s portfolio companies involved in deceptive practices, consumer exploitation, or repeated legal violations, including AI companion apps linked to youth suicide, deepfake platforms enabling sexual image-based abuse, and fintech firms shut down for fraud.

The investigation comes as a16z escalates its policy influence in Washington, funding the launch of a $100 million super PAC, pushing for a ban on AI regulation at the state level, and having former partners take key government roles at the White House.

The report compiles existing public reporting on a16z portfolio companies, including:

• A bot farm trying to pass off paid ads from a deluge of AI-generated influencers as genuine product endorsements by real people.
• A platform hosting nearly 35,000 deepfake models — downloaded nearly 15 million times, 96% targeting identifiable women — where users made more than 100,000 attempts to bypass safety restrictions to create AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
• Fintech companies that lost tens of millions in customer deposits, falsely claimed partnerships with major banks, and were shut down for "repeatedly lying and illegally cheating its customers."

“When venture capital firms spend millions to influence AI policy, it's worth examining what kind of future they're investing in.,” said Tyler Johnston, executive director of The Midas Project and lead author of the report. “This report brings that information together in one place so people can draw their own conclusions.”

Model Republic will publish investigations into AI industry lobbying, political spending, and regulatory influence.

The full report is available at https://www.modelrepublic.org/articles/a16z-portfolio.

About the Midas Project

The Midas Project is a watchdog nonprofit working to ensure AI technology benefits everybody, not just the companies developing it. The organization monitors AI companies' safety commitments, investigates governance practices, and advocates for the responsible development of emerging technology.

Contact

Tyler Johnston
Executive Director, The Midas Project
tyler@themidasproject.com
970-333-0956