Colin

Technology policy advocate associated with Andreessen Horowitz, focusing on pro-innovation regulation for AI and other emerging technologies.

Claims

As speaker

Mentioned in

Key positions and views

Advocates for a federal preemption framework for AI model regulation to establish a single national standard and prevent a burdensome 50-state patchwork of laws.

Strongly opposes a highly restrictive, 'nuclear-style' regulatory regime for AI, arguing it would stifle American innovation and cede technological leadership and market share to China.

Views the Biden administration's approach to technology as hostile, believing it is driven by a flawed premise that only a few large companies can compete in AI and thus must be severely restricted.

Identifies the Effective Altruism community as a primary source of 'safetyism' and fear-based narratives that have successfully and negatively influenced D.C. policymakers against technology.

Champions the interests of smaller AI startups ('Little Tech') to ensure they can compete with large, established tech companies in a fair regulatory environment.

Podcast consensus on Colin

Points of consensus

▶There is a widespread belief on Capitol Hill, spurred by CEO testimonies in fall 2023, that AI poses significant risks, which directly led to the Biden administration's executive order.Apr 2026

▶The Effective Altruism community has successfully conducted a decade-long, well-funded campaign to influence Washington D.C. think tanks and nonprofits, promoting a fearful narrative about AI.Apr 2026

▶A general alignment has emerged across large, medium, and small technology companies on the necessity of a federal standard for AI regulation to preempt a patchwork of state laws.Apr 2026

▶Some U.S. policymakers are using the current AI policy debate as a proxy to address perceived shortcomings of past legislation, such as the 1996 Telecom Act.Apr 2026

Points of debate

▶A significant policy conflict exists between a 'pro-innovation' agenda, which supports open-source and permissionless development, and a 'safetyism' ideology that advocates for highly restrictive, nuclear-style AI regulation.Apr 2026

▶The Biden administration's actions on technology are viewed by some, including Colin, as fundamentally hostile and aimed at eradicating industries like cryptocurrency and locking down AI development to only a few large companies.Apr 2026

▶The appropriate U.S. policy response to China is contested, with Colin arguing against restrictive outbound investment rules and domestic AI regulations that he believes would cede technological leadership to Beijing.Apr 2026

▶The merits of the EU AI Act are debated, with Colin viewing it as containing highly problematic provisions influenced by a harmful 'safetyism' ideology.Apr 2026

Key themes

▶The Political Battle for AI's FutureApr 2026

Colin portrays the current AI landscape as a high-stakes political conflict in Washington D.C. He contrasts the 'pro-innovation AI agenda,' championed by Andreessen Horowitz and startups, with a 'safetyism' ideology he attributes to the Effective Altruism community and elements within the Biden administration. This battle will determine whether the U.S. adopts a permissionless innovation framework or a highly restrictive, 'nuclear-style' regulatory regime.

This theme indicates that the primary risk and opportunity for AI companies may not be technical but political, making lobbying, narrative control, and policy advocacy critical functions for survival and growth.

▶Geopolitical Tech Competition with ChinaApr 2026

A recurring theme is the warning that overly restrictive U.S. AI policy will directly benefit China. Colin argues that measures like banning open-source models or adopting stringent regulations will cause the U.S. to lose its technological leadership, cede global market share, and surrender soft power to Chinese alternatives.

For investors, this frames U.S. domestic AI regulation as a direct variable in geopolitical risk, impacting the long-term global competitiveness of American technology firms.

▶The Rise of 'Little Tech' AdvocacyApr 2026

Colin highlights the recent emergence of a distinct political voice for smaller AI startups, arguing that prior to this effort, no specific group represented their interests against large incumbents like Google and OpenAI. This 'Little Tech agenda' aims to ensure that the regulatory environment allows for competition and innovation from new entrants.

This signals a potential fragmentation of the traditional tech lobby, where the interests of startups and incumbents diverge, creating new political dynamics and potential regulatory openings for disruptive companies.

▶Administration's Perceived Hostility to TechApr 2026

Colin characterizes the Biden administration's posture towards emerging technology as deeply antagonistic. He cites actions perceived as an attempt to 'eradicate' the cryptocurrency industry and a belief among senior officials that AI should be dominated by only two or three heavily regulated companies.

This perspective underscores a significant regulatory risk for investors in cutting-edge tech sectors, suggesting that political engagement is a crucial defensive necessity for firms in these areas.

Source episodes

Sentiment over time

Not enough data for timeline

Changes over time

c. 2013-2023

The Effective Altruism community engages in a decade-long, well-funded campaign to influence D.C. think tanks and nonprofits, successfully promoting a fearful narrative about AI technology.

Fall 2023

A series of U.S. Senate hearings feature testimony from major AI CEOs about existential risks, causing what Colin describes as a 'freak out' and significant alarm on Capitol Hill.

Late 2023

Directly influenced by the alarm on Capitol Hill, the Biden administration issues its executive order on AI, which Colin views as leading to poorly conceived legislative proposals.

Present

Advocacy groups representing 'Little Tech' emerge to counter the influence of large tech companies and 'safety' groups. Their top policy priority, led by firms like Andreessen Horowitz, is to establish a federal preemption framework for AI regulation to prevent a 50-state patchwork of laws.

Suggested prompts

How does Colin's distinction between 'Big Tech' and 'Little Tech' interests in AI regulation shape Andreessen Horowitz's policy strategy? &nearr;What specific provisions in the EU AI Act and the Biden AI Executive Order does Colin find most problematic for AI startups, and why? &nearr;To what extent is the 'fearful narrative' about AI, which Colin attributes to the Effective Altruism community, shaping concrete legislative proposals in the U.S.? &nearr;Beyond federal preemption, what are the secondary policy goals of the 'pro-innovation AI agenda' that Colin advocates for? &nearr;

Key concepts

US Government & AI Policy 1 ep AI Regulation 1 ep Lobbying & Advocacy 1 ep Geopolitical Competition (China) 1 ep Andreessen Horowitz 1 ep Effective Altruism / Safetyism 1 ep Big Tech vs. Startups 1 ep Cryptocurrency Policy 1 ep Open Source AI 1 ep

Notable quotes

“The alarm on Capitol Hill following CEO testimonies in fall 2023 directly influenced the creation of the Biden administration's executive order on AI.”

Colin · The Little Tech Agenda for AI

“I think the effect of Altruist community for ten years backed by large sums of money were very, very effective at influencing think tanks and nonprofit organizations in D.C. and the state capitals to sort of push us in a direction where people are very fearful about the technology.”

Colin · The Little Tech Agenda for AI

“Adopting a highly restrictive, nuclear-style regulatory regime for AI would result in the U.S. losing its technological leadership to China.”

Colin · The Little Tech Agenda for AI

“there was a prevailing view by very, very powerful people of the previous administration that this was going to be only two or three major companies able to compete in the AI landscape. And because that was the case, they needed to be basically locked down and put in this incredibly restrictive view from a policy and regulatory perspective.”

Colin · The Little Tech Agenda for AI

Report last updated: Apr 21, 2026

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