The Campaign to Kill American AI Runs Through San Francisco
3 hours ago
- #foreign-influence
- #AI-policy
- #San-Francisco
- A federal grand jury is investigating a foreign-funded network for influencing U.S. AI policy, with ties to San Francisco, Oakland, and other Bay Area nodes.
- Neville Roy Singham, based in Shanghai, has funneled over $285 million into U.S. nonprofits that campaign against AI data centers, with his wife organizing in Oakland.
- The movement is portrayed as grassroots environmentalism but includes coordinated efforts from Chinese state media, Singham's network, and billionaire-funded charities.
- Reports document how the Party for Socialism and Liberation delayed or blocked $23.6 billion in AI data center investments across 14 states.
- Organizations like CodePink, funded by Singham-linked sources, are active in the Bay Area and face scrutiny under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
- The ClimateWorks Foundation in San Francisco channels funds from foreign billionaires to environmental groups opposing data centers, including those aligned with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
- Foreign influence extends beyond China, with Estonian billionaire Jaan Tallinn funding AI-safety groups in the Bay Area that also advocate slowing AI development.
- The campaign leverages local concerns to gain mainstream credibility, as seen with the San Francisco Labor Council president speaking at a Marxist-Leninist conference.
- California communities like Monterey Park have banned data centers, potentially hindering U.S. AI competitiveness and economic growth.
- The operation raises concerns about American AI leadership, as foreign actors aim to slow U.S. infrastructure while subsidizing their own AI buildout.