OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has partnered with AI 2030, an initiative spearheaded by the American Security Project (ASP). This collaboration aims to influence the conversation surrounding U.S. competition with China in the field of artificial intelligence. However, ASP's connections to prominent Democrats and left-leaning causes have raised questions about potential political biases.

President-elect Trump, left, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (Getty Images)

John Kerry, former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, co-founded ASP and served on its board. The organization has advocated for addressing climate change as a national security issue and criticized the withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal. Several other ASP board members have also expressed opposition to Trump administration policies. David Wade, Kerry's former chief of staff, currently serves on the board and has written about the need for the U.S. to compete with China on AI development. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, another board member, has publicly criticized former President Trump.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry (Chesnot/Getty Images)

OpenAI's Head of Global Policy, Chris Lehane, has a history with the Democratic Party and authored the "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" memo during the Clinton administration. He has also contributed financially to Democratic political campaigns. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, despite a recent personal donation to Trump's inauguration, has a track record of substantial contributions to Democratic candidates and organizations.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Altman's political leanings and OpenAI's pursuit of defense contracts have drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk, who has questioned Altman's trustworthiness and expressed concerns about potential bias in OpenAI's products, such as ChatGPT.

Elon Musk (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

While OpenAI emphasizes the importance of the U.S. winning the AI race against China, the initiative's ties to figures with strong Democratic affiliations have fueled concerns about potential political influence on the development and deployment of this powerful technology.

Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI (Getty Images)