The Political Dynamics of AI in California

In partnership with Diffusion.Au

AI has become a tier-one economic and safety concern for California voters—and a potential fault line in the 2026 elections. Californians want leaders who will act as an independent check on the technology industry, ensuring AI serves working families, not just billionaires in Silicon Valley. But between voter sentiment and policy outcomes sits a well-resourced effort by the tech industry to control the terms of the debate.

This memo breaks down where the public stands, how attitudes shift across regions and demographics, and how Big Tech is working to shape the debate—from Sacramento lobbying rooms to super PACs with hundreds of millions behind them.

Don’t have time to read the whole memo? Check out our explainer blog for the main takeaways.

Political Dynamics of AI in CA Download

About the California’s AI Future memo series

California’s AI Future is a set of policy solutions that can form the basis for a people-first AI future. Other memos in the package include:

AI & California’s Labor Market: Reckoning with AI’s Impact on Workers: How AI tools are being used to demean and exploit workers across industries, and what California’s leaders can do about it.
AI & Affordability in California: How algorithmic rent-fixing, data center energy costs, and surveillance pricing are driving up costs for California families—and the policy solutions that can help.
Beyond Big Tech: An Alternative Vision for California’s Tech Economy: Pro-competition solutions to build an innovative tech ecosystem that allows all companies to compete on the merits and deliver widespread social benefits.

Download the memo below. Want to learn more about AI policy that puts people first? Check out our People-First AI page for more resources.