Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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OpenAI’s Chris Lehane joins Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei to discuss AI’s growing political problem, from public backlash and Washington regulation to jobs, energy, national security and trust.

Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, explains why he believes AI needs clearer public value, national safety standards and a new model for how the public and private sectors work together.

Timestamps:
00:01 - AI’s public perception problem
00:20 - Comparing AI to a political candidate
01:07 - Public concern: Jobs, economics, and energy
01:53 - The "Accelerationist" vs. "Doomer" debate
02:37 - How AI impacts everyday life
03:32 - Connecting AI to regular people
04:59 - Could AI “die in D.C.”?
06:20 - The "Third Chapter" of AI utility
08:32 - Government policy and model testing
10:17 - Public-private model approval process
11:18 - Reimagining corporate structures
12:38 - National security and existential risks
14:43 - Distributing the "Intelligence Dividend"