OpenAI and partners announce $500 billion AI infrastructure project amid controversy

OpenAI, along with SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, has announced “The Stargate Project,” a planned $500 billion investment over four years to build AI infrastructure in the United States. The initiative, unveiled at the White House, includes an immediate deployment of $100 billion, with SoftBank taking financial responsibility and OpenAI handling operations under the chairmanship of … Read more

OpenAI increases lobbying spending to shape AI policy

OpenAI significantly expanded its lobbying efforts in 2024, spending $1.76 million compared to $260,000 in 2023. According to a disclosure filed on January 22, as reported by James O’Donnell, the company spent $510,000 in the last quarter alone. The AI company hired several key personnel, including former Senate staffers, to strengthen its government relations team. … Read more

Texas proposes strict new AI regulation law

Texas has introduced a comprehensive AI regulation bill that could become the most stringent AI law in the United States. The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA), formally introduced as HB 1709, aims to combat algorithmic discrimination and ensure ethical AI deployment. According to analysis by Dean W. Ball, the bill significantly expands upon previous … Read more

Atlanta Restricts Data Center Growth to Protect Urban Development

Atlanta has implemented new restrictions on data center construction amid concerns about their impact on urban development. According to Will Parker’s report in The Wall Street Journal, the city council banned new data centers near transit and the popular Beltline area in September 2024. The decision comes as Atlanta experiences a 76% increase in data … Read more

OpenAI expands policy team in Washington

OpenAI is significantly expanding its Washington D.C. presence by tripling its policy team to 12 people. According to a report by Mohar Chatterjee in Politico, the company is positioning itself as crucial to U.S. competition with China. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global affairs, is leading efforts to promote an ambitious plan for AI infrastructure … Read more

US election signals shift toward unregulated AI development

The 2024 U.S. presidential election outcome indicates a significant change in the country’s approach to artificial intelligence regulation and development. According to an analysis by Gary Grossman, Executive Vice President at Edelman and global lead of the Edelman AI Center of Excellence, the victory of President-elect Donald Trump marks a turn toward accelerationist policies in … Read more

UK creative industry opposes AI copyright exemption plan

British creative organizations have united against a government proposal that would allow AI companies to use copyrighted works without explicit permission. According to Robert Booth’s report in The Guardian, the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, representing thousands of artists, writers, and media companies, rejected the plan announced by technology minister Chris Bryant. The proposal would … Read more

US homeland security chief criticizes EU’s AI regulation approach

The outgoing US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned against Europe’s strict approach to AI regulation. In an interview with the Financial Times, reported by Cristina Criddle and Tabby Kinder, Mayorkas expressed concern about the growing tensions between the US and Europe over AI oversight. He emphasized that Europe’s “adversarial” relationship with … Read more

Chinese AI experts face growing barriers to US tech careers

Chinese AI professionals are increasingly reconsidering career opportunities in the US due to heightened security measures and visa restrictions. According to reporting by Yvonne Lau for Rest of World, US-China tech competition and espionage concerns have led to stricter immigration screenings for Chinese tech workers. China produces nearly half of the world’s AI talent, compared … Read more

UK plans new transparency rules for AI training data

The UK government is launching a consultation on new regulations that would require AI companies to be more transparent about the data they use to train their models. According to a report by Daniel Thomas and Anna Gross in the Financial Times, the proposal includes an exemption to copyright laws for AI training purposes, unless … Read more