On October 13, 2026, WIRED reported that two PACs in the pro-AI Leading the Future network paid millions of dollars to Nevada LLCs: Think Big paid Lantern Production Consultants LLC around $20 million since 2025, and American Mission paid Summit Ridge Media Group LLC around $13 million from December 2025 through September 2026. Campaign Legal Center alleged that the payments obscured the actual recipients; Leading the Future denied wrongdoing.
The two reported payments
WIRED said the federal campaign-finance records it reviewed listed polling, digital advertising, research and strategy among the services associated with Think Big’s payments to Lantern. The reported payment periods differ: the account dates the Lantern payments only as beginning in 2025, while it gives December 2025 through September 2026 for American Mission’s payments to Summit Ridge.
| PAC | Nevada LLC recipient | Reported amount | Reported period |
| Think Big | Lantern Production Consultants LLC | Around $20 million | Since 2025 |
| American Mission | Summit Ridge Media Group LLC | Around $13 million | December 2025–September 2026 |
WIRED also identified Blue Horizon Compliance Consultants and Prusik Partners LLC among the Nevada businesses appearing in the records. It listed Lantern at a post-office box in a Sparks shopping center, Summit Ridge at a Reno mail center, Blue Horizon at a Staples location in Reno, and Prusik Partners at a strip mall in Henderson. Nevada’s Secretary of State told WIRED the office could not locate records for the four businesses.
What the complaint alleges
Campaign Legal Center filed an FEC complaint in May 2026 alleging that Think Big and American Mission failed to disclose the actual recipients of payments through shell companies. Leading the Future spokesperson Jesse Hunt said the network complied with applicable laws. WIRED’s October 13 account reported no FEC finding on the allegation.
The Federal Election Commission has six commissioner seats and needs four commissioners for a quorum to decide a complaint. WIRED reported that the FEC had lacked a quorum since May 2025 and that Campaign Legal Center did not expect the complaint to be heard soon.
The national AI spending picture
CNN’s October 11, 2026 report put collective fundraising by AI-backed super PACs above $240 million. WIRED reported that Leading the Future had raised more than $140 million. CNN also described AI political groups backing a national policy framework that could preempt differing state AI rules—a broader policy debate, distinct from the Nevada payment allegations.
The same CNN report said Anthropic contributed at least $40 million to Public First Action, a separate organization from Leading the Future. It also explains the broader fundraising and policy campaign:
