#246 – Sneha Revanur on how a small team of activists helped pass America's landmark AI safety laws

#246 – Sneha Revanur on how a small team of activists helped pass America's landmark AI safety laws

Author: The 80,000 Hours team July 8, 2026 Duration: 52:33

Six years ago, aged just 15, Sneha Revanur founded the AI advocacy nonprofit Encode AI — back when AI felt like a niche issue. Now the world’s caught up with her, and she’s ready to share everything she’s learned about the politics of AI.

Encode has grown from a grassroots youth organisation to spearheading an unlikely coalition of AI-exposed groups — family-first conservatives, grieving mothers, Hollywood actors, and AI safety researchers — with the strength to take on $125m-funded anti-regulation lobbyists.

So far, Encode’s strategy of taking many experimental swings has netted major victories (including California’s frontier AI safety bill, SB-53, and New York’s RAISE Act) as well as some disappointing setbacks.

Going up against Big Tech hasn’t been easy. In 2025, OpenAI subpoenaed Encode’s general counsel at his home, with a sheriff’s deputy arriving while he was having dinner with his wife. The fallout went viral, resulting in more attention than Encode had ever experienced — and Sneha was forced to decide how hard to push back against a company she’d need to negotiate with for years to come.

In today’s conversation, Zershaaneh Qureshi interrogates some of Encode’s strategic moves. The pair discuss all the above, plus:

  • How the AI industry’s crypto-inspired anti-regulation strategy is not “AGI-pilled”
  • Why AI advocacy doesn’t have to be held back by the slow pace of policy
  • How mutual trust can hold together the unlikeliest of political allies
  • Advice for aspiring AI advocates — including how to balance political persuasion with rigorous reasoning 

Due to technical issues, this episode was recorded across two days (May 26 and 28, 2026) and spliced together.

Links to learn more, video, and full transcript: https://80k.info/SR

Chapters:

  • Cold open (00:00:00)   
  • Who’s Sneha Revanur? (00:00:32)   
  • Sneha’s awakening to AI’s deeper risks (00:01:16)   
  • “If you do everything, you will win” (00:04:04)   
  • Influencing politics from the outside (00:06:39)   
  • The challenge of grassroots (00:11:16)   
  • Mums, musicians, and conservatives vs Big Tech (00:14:21)   
  • How vetoed bills can still provide wins (00:19:31)   
  • OpenAI’s subpoena, served at dinner (00:27:33)   
  • How AI money plays in politics (00:37:19)   
  • Easy wins vs high-upside bets (00:43:25)   
  • Advice for aspiring AI advocates (00:48:03)   


Our production team includes:

  • Video editors: Josh Alward, Dominic Armstrong, Jasper Luithlen, Milo McGuire, Luke Monsour, Simon Monsour, and Andrés Escobar
  • Producer: Nick Stockton and Elizabeth Cox
  • Coordination and support: Katy Moore and Lou Moran
  • Music: CORBIT

The 80,000 Hours Podcast, from The 80,000 Hours team, digs into the complex and often overlooked questions surrounding how we can best use our careers to tackle the world's most pressing problems. While artificial intelligence is a recurring and critical theme, framing some of the most important conversations you won't hear elsewhere, the discussions range far wider into the intersections of technology, policy, philosophy, and global priorities. Hosts Rob Wiblin, Luisa Rodriguez, and Zershaaneh Qureshi guide in-depth interviews with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, breaking down daunting ideas into actionable insights. You'll hear nuanced analyses of career paths, ethical dilemmas in emerging tech, and evidence-based strategies for creating a positive impact. This isn't about quick tips; it's about deep, substantive exploration of how specific choices and systemic changes can lead to a better future. The podcast lives in the Education and Technology categories because it fundamentally aims to equip listeners with the knowledge and perspective to navigate a rapidly changing world thoughtfully. Each episode is built on rigorous research, challenging assumptions while maintaining a conversational and accessible tone. Tune in for a consistently engaging and intellectually honest look at the forces shaping our century and the practical steps individuals can take within their own 80,000-hour working lives to make a meaningful difference.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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