News/Policy
UK tackles AI data center power surge with smart scheduling
The United Kingdom faces a critical infrastructure challenge as artificial intelligence reshapes the digital economy. AI data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity at precisely the moment when national grids are transitioning toward renewable energy sources. This creates a complex balancing act between technological advancement and environmental sustainability that could determine whether the UK achieves its ambitious AI leadership goals. The scale of this challenge is substantial. The International Energy Agency reports that a single ChatGPT query requires 2.9 watt-hours of electricity—nearly ten times more than a traditional Google search, which consumes just 0.3 watt-hours. With ChatGPT surpassing 100 million...
read Aug 15, 20256 Democratic senators challenge Trump’s 15% AI chip export fee as illegal
Democratic senators have formally challenged President Trump's plan to collect a 15% fee from Nvidia and AMD's AI chip exports to China, arguing the arrangement violates federal law and potentially the Constitution. The bipartisan pushback highlights growing tensions over balancing national security concerns with commercial interests in the lucrative AI semiconductor market. What you should know: Six Democratic senators sent a letter to Trump on Friday demanding he reverse his decision to allow the chip exports with the fee structure. The lawmakers include Mark Warner of Virginia, Chuck Schumer of New York, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of...
read Aug 15, 2025Big Think AGI hype may be diverting focus from practical AI regulation needs
A new analysis argues that artificial general intelligence (AGI) hype from the AI industry serves as a strategic distraction that benefits companies by shifting policy focus away from immediate regulatory concerns. The argument suggests that by emphasizing existential AGI risks, the industry can operate with fewer constraints on current narrow AI applications while harvesting profits from controllable technologies. The core argument: Industry incentives align with promoting AGI-focused policies regardless of whether AGI actually emerges. If AGI doesn't happen, loose regulation allows companies to profit from narrow AI with minimal guardrails on issues like intellectual property, algorithmic transparency, or market concentration....
read Aug 15, 2025UK’s £100M Turing AI Institute faces collapse amid turn toward defense concerns
The UK's Turing AI Institute leadership has acknowledged that recent months have been "challenging" for staff amid internal turmoil over the government's directive to prioritize defense research. This comes after employees filed a whistleblowing complaint with the Charity Commission this week, warning that the £100 million government-funded organization risks collapse under Technology Secretary Peter Kyle's ultimatum to shift focus or lose funding. What you should know: The institute's leadership is attempting to balance government demands while maintaining other research priorities. Chair Dr Doug Gurr said the Turing institute would "step up at a time of national need" and has established...
read Aug 15, 2025Delete emails to help conserve water (and support data centers), England drought officials say
England's National Drought Group has advised millions of residents to delete old emails and photos to help conserve water during the country's driest six-month period since 1976. The unusual recommendation stems from the fact that data centers storing digital information require vast amounts of water to cool their systems, creating an unexpected link between digital habits and water conservation during drought conditions. What you should know: England is experiencing severe drought conditions with five areas under formal drought declarations and reservoirs averaging just 67.7% full compared to the typical 80.5% for this time of year. The affected regions include Yorkshire;...
read Aug 15, 2025AI experts visit China, get shook by its energy advantage
American AI experts recently returned from China with sobering observations about the country's energy infrastructure, concluding that China's abundant electricity supply gives it a decisive advantage in the AI race. The stark contrast highlights how U.S. grid limitations could severely constrain American AI development while China operates from a position of energy abundance. What you should know: China has solved the power problem that's becoming a critical bottleneck for U.S. AI development. "Everywhere we went, people treated energy availability as a given," wrote Rui Ma, founder of Tech Buzz China, after touring China's AI hubs. In contrast, surging AI demand...
read Aug 14, 2025GOP Senators demand Meta investigation after AI chatbot child safety scandal
Two Republican senators are calling for a congressional investigation into Meta Platforms after Reuters revealed an internal company document that permitted its AI chatbots to "engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual." The controversy intensified when Meta confirmed the document's authenticity but only removed the problematic portions after being questioned by Reuters, prompting lawmakers to demand accountability and renewed calls for child safety legislation. What you should know: Meta's internal policy document explicitly allowed chatbots to engage in inappropriate interactions with minors until the company was caught.• The document permitted chatbots to flirt and engage in romantic...
read Aug 14, 2025Licensing remains the biggest hurdle for enterprise AI adoption, says Freepik CEO
Freepik CEO Joaquín Cuenca Abela believes the generative AI boom is sustainable despite growing concerns about business models and market saturation. In an exclusive interview, Abela compared potential AI market corrections to the dot-com bubble of 2000—temporary setbacks in an otherwise transformative technology that's already generating billions in revenue from real users at an unprecedented pace. What you should know: Freepik has positioned itself as a bridge between AI innovation and enterprise compliance, addressing one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption. The company offers end-to-end legal protection and indemnity through its Enterprise plan, which has been "warmly received by...
read Aug 14, 2025DOGE builds AI tool to slash federal regulations in hours, not months
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has developed SweetREX, an AI tool designed to automatically review federal regulations and identify rules for elimination across US government agencies. Created by Christopher Sweet, a University of Chicago undergraduate who took leave to join DOGE, the tool aims to support President Trump's deregulation agenda by reducing the time needed to review regulations from months to just hours or days. What you should know: SweetREX operates by scanning federal regulations to flag sections it deems unnecessary based on statutory requirements, then generates draft revisions for government review. The tool primarily uses Google's Gemini AI...
read Aug 14, 2025Labor officials clash with Yang over AI’s true impact on employment
Andrew Yang and the U.S. Department of Labor's Chief Innovation Officer presented sharply contrasting views on AI's workforce impact at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas. While Yang warns of immediate job displacement requiring urgent income support like universal basic income, the Labor Department argues fears of mass unemployment are overstated and emphasizes rapid retraining and AI literacy as the solution. What they're saying: Yang doesn't mince words about AI's current impact on employment. "Anyone who thinks that the white-collar blood bath is nonsense is going to be wrong," Yang said, warning that skeptics may only need months to see...
read Aug 13, 2025Stanford study: 40% of 9K teachers now use AI in daily classroom routines
A Stanford University study tracking over 9,000 K-12 teachers using AI tools reveals that more than 40% have integrated artificial intelligence into their regular classroom routines. The research, conducted through SchoolAI platform data during the 2024-25 school year, provides the first large-scale behavioral analysis of how educators actually use AI in their daily work, moving beyond surveys to examine real usage patterns. What you should know: The study categorized teachers into four groups based on their 90-day platform engagement, with sustained adoption rates exceeding typical software benchmarks. Single-Day Users (16%) logged in once and never returned Trial Users (43%) used...
read Aug 13, 2025Alabama colleges develop AI policies balancing academic integrity with job readiness
Calhoun Community College and Athens State University in Alabama are developing comprehensive AI policies for classrooms as generative AI becomes more prevalent in education. The institutions are working to balance academic integrity concerns with the practical need to prepare students for AI-integrated workplaces, particularly in high-demand fields like cybersecurity. What you should know: Both colleges are still finalizing their AI policies, with approaches varying significantly by department and program focus. Calhoun currently categorizes AI use into three levels: restricted, limited, and integrated, with different rules applying across departments. The Computer Information Systems (CIS) division actively encourages AI use, recognizing that...
read Aug 13, 2025Google’s Gemini now remembers your chats automatically—here’s what that means for privacy
Google's Gemini AI chatbot will now automatically remember details from past conversations to personalize future responses, eliminating the need for users to manually prompt the system to recall previous discussions. The update expands Gemini's memory capabilities beyond its current manual "remember" feature, positioning Google to compete more directly with ChatGPT's cross-chat memory functionality while raising questions about AI safety and user privacy. How it works: Gemini will automatically store and reference key details and preferences from your conversation history to tailor its responses. If you previously discussed creating a YouTube channel about Japanese culture, Gemini might later suggest video ideas...
read Aug 12, 2025The new NAFTA? US labor unions push state laws to restrict AI in workplaces
Today in Obvious: Labor unions across the United States are mobilizing to push state-level legislation that would restrict how artificial intelligence is deployed in workplaces, targeting everything from autonomous vehicles to AI-powered hiring decisions. This coordinated effort comes after federal attempts to regulate AI stalled, leaving states as the primary battleground for determining how workers will be protected from potential job displacement and algorithmic bias. The big picture: The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a federation of 63 national and international labor unions, launched a national task force last month to work with state lawmakers...
read Aug 12, 2025Post at your peril: UK’s HMRC uses AI to monitor social media for tax fraud investigations
HMRC has confirmed it uses artificial intelligence to monitor social media posts as part of criminal investigations into suspected tax cheats, marking a significant expansion of automated surveillance in tax enforcement. The technology enables the tax authority to streamline investigations while raising important questions about privacy, accuracy, and the role of AI in government oversight. What you should know: HMRC, the UK's tax authority, emphasizes that AI monitoring is limited to criminal investigations and includes human oversight to prevent automated decision-making. The technology is only used as part of criminal investigations, not on everyday taxpayers, according to an HMRC spokesperson....
read Aug 12, 2025Public Service AI: Mexican senator deploys $4K robot dog to teach animal welfare on streets
A Mexican federal senator has deployed "Waldog," an AI-powered robot dog, to teach animal kindness and raise awareness about animal welfare on the streets of Monterrey. The beagle-sized robot engages children and adults in conversations about animal rights while also serving practical functions like identifying street hazards and documenting stray animals. What you should know: Senator Waldo Fernandez purchased Waldog for $4,084 with his own money and named the robot after himself. The robot requires adult supervision and operates via remote control, making rounds through low-income neighborhoods like Santa Catarina. Waldog introduces itself by saying, "Hi, I'm Waldog, and I'm...
read Aug 11, 2025House Democrats push CMS to cancel AI-driven Medicare approval program
More than a dozen House Democrats have pressed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz to cancel a planned prior authorization pilot program that would expand AI-driven approval requirements to traditional Medicare. The program, set to begin testing in six states this January, represents a significant shift for traditional Medicare, which has historically operated without extensive prior authorization requirements. What you should know: The pilot program incorporates artificial intelligence to help make healthcare coverage decisions, marking a departure from traditional Medicare's historically streamlined approach. Representatives Suzan DelBene of Washington and Ami Bera of California led the Democratic...
read Aug 11, 2025US takes 15% cut from Nvidia and AMD China chip sales under new deal
Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the U.S. government 15% of revenues from sales of advanced AI chips to China, including Nvidia's H20 and AMD's MI308 processors, according to a U.S. official. The arrangement serves as a condition for obtaining export licenses after the Trump administration halted such sales in April, raising questions about whether chip exports to China constitute a national security risk or simply a revenue opportunity. What you should know: The revenue-sharing agreement applies specifically to advanced AI chips that were previously restricted from Chinese markets. Nvidia's H20 chips, described by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as...
read Aug 8, 2025“Learn to AI”: California propels workforce training with tech giants across public education system
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced partnerships with Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and IBM to integrate AI training and tools across the state's community colleges and California State University system. The voluntary agreements aim to prepare students and educators for an AI-driven workforce while modernizing curricula and expanding access to generative AI technologies across California's public education system. What you should know: These memoranda of understanding formalize partnerships focused on workforce development, teacher training, and hands-on AI experience without any exchange of funds. Google is providing AI-focused training courses for students on effective prompting and for educators on using generative AI...
read Aug 7, 2025British MP’s AI avatar struggles with Yorkshire accents
Leeds MP Mark Sewards has launched what's billed as the first AI avatar of a British MP, allowing constituents to interact with a digital version that responds in his voice. However, testing by The Guardian revealed significant limitations when the AI encountered Yorkshire accents and local dialect, highlighting ongoing challenges with voice recognition technology for regional speech patterns. How it works: The "Sewardsbot" features a Pixar-style cartoon representation of the Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley that can field questions from constituents.• The AI responds in Sewards' actual voice, offering advice, support, or promising to pass messages to...
read Aug 7, 2025OpenAI launches GPT-5 with claimed PhD-level AI capabilities
OpenAI has launched GPT-5, claiming the new AI model delivers "PhD-level" expertise across areas like coding and writing. The release marks a significant upgrade in the company's flagship ChatGPT service, with CEO Sam Altman describing it as ushering in a new era of AI capabilities that would have been "unimaginable at any previous time in human history." What you should know: GPT-5 represents a major leap in AI reasoning and problem-solving capabilities compared to its predecessors. Altman characterized the progression as moving from high school level (GPT-3) to college level (GPT-4) to PhD-level expertise (GPT-5). The model can create complete...
read Aug 6, 2025States create AI rules as federal regulation stalls. Here are their 4 priorities.
While Congress remains largely silent on artificial intelligence regulation, state governments across America are stepping into the void with unprecedented legislative activity. All 50 states introduced AI-related legislation in 2025, creating a complex regulatory landscape that businesses must now navigate. This surge in state-level action follows Congress's recent defeat of a proposed moratorium on state AI regulation, effectively giving states the green light to continue crafting their own rules. The result is a patchwork of regulations that, while complicating compliance efforts for AI developers, addresses critical gaps in privacy protection, civil rights, and consumer safeguards that federal lawmakers have yet...
read Aug 6, 2025Nuclear weapons experts oppose AI launch control despite inevitable integration
Nuclear weapons experts gathered at the University of Chicago in July are unanimous that artificial intelligence will inevitably become integrated into nuclear weapons systems, though none can predict exactly how this integration will unfold. The consensus among Nobel laureates, scientists, and former government officials underscores a critical shift in global security as AI permeates the most dangerous weapons on Earth. What you should know: While experts agree AI integration is inevitable, they remain united in opposing AI control over nuclear launch decisions. "In this realm, almost everybody says we want effective human control over nuclear weapon decisionmaking," says Jon Wolfsthal,...
read Aug 6, 2025Nvidia rejects U.S. demands for AI chip backdoors and kill switches
Nvidia has rejected U.S. government demands to include backdoors and kill switches in its AI chips, with the company's chief security officer publishing a blog post calling such measures "an open invitation for disaster." The pushback comes as bipartisan lawmakers consider legislation requiring tracking technology in AI chips, while Chinese officials have alleged that backdoors already exist in Nvidia's hardware sold in China. What you should know: Nvidia's stance directly opposes the proposed Chip Security Act, which would mandate security measures including potential remote kill switches. The bipartisan bill introduced in May would require Nvidia and other manufacturers to include...
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