Lobbying

Bottom Line: Robot dog maker enters the AI lobby melee

by Taylor Giorno - 12/12/23 10:06 AM ET

Greg Nash
A K St. banner is seen in downtown Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 30, 2023.

Artificial Intelligence

Boston Dynamics hired DLA Piper to lobby on issues related to the robotics industry, artificial intelligence and where the two disciplines overlap. The company used OpenAI’s ChatGPT API to train its robot dog Spot to speak, sometimes in a British accent and sporting a top hat, and Boston Dynamics principal software engineer Matt Klingensmith said in a recent blog post that the company is “excited to continue exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics.” Tony Samp, a former senior policy adviser to Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus founder and co-chair Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), will work on the account.

Food

The Raben Group registered to lobby for Feeding America on The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The largest U.S. charity by revenue according to Forbes, Feeding America is lobbying “to ensure the program can continue to provide vital nutrition supports to low-income Americans,” according to the new release. Sarah Bolton, a Capitol Hill veteran whose resume included stints as education policy director of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and a senior policy and budget adviser on the Senate Budget Committee, will work on the account.

Technology

Dropbox hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby on issues related to privacy, content moderation and intermediary liability. Reginald Babin, who spent nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill and was most recently chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) before joining Akin in 2022, will work on the account.

Labor

The International Franchise Association hired Ice Miller to lobby Congress and federal agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Trade Commission, and provide legal advice on labor, employment and franchising issues. Meagan Bolton, former counsel to the House Small Business Committee, will work on the account.

Nonprofit

The Young Women’s Christian Association, the YWCA, hired Actum I to lobby on issues related to child care and federal appropriations. Leticia Mederos, a former longtime aide to House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), will work on the account.