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The House passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act 417-3, which would require state utility regulators to consider rules making data centers cover some new power generation costs. The vote reflects growing pressure over AI data center costs and grid strain, while President Trump has defended rapid AI and data center development.
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New polling shows more than half of Americans are concerned about AI's environmental impact, especially data centers' strain on electricity and water. The findings arrive as Congress weighs AI safeguards and the Trump administration promotes rapid AI infrastructure buildout. Public anxiety also extends to existential risks, with bipartisan majorities seeing at least moderate danger.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled Thursday votes, sending lawmakers home early before the midterm recess and avoiding a vote on a Republican resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democrats criticized the move sharply, while Johnson defended his reluctance to impose an AI development moratorium by citing competition with China.
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The House left Washington after only seven workdays following its summer break and is not expected to return until after the November midterms. The early recess lets GOP leadership avoid a vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and sidestep Democratic demands to address an AI crisis.
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The article reports warnings from analysts and tech leaders that U.S.-China mutual distrust over AI development is itself a major existential risk. It contrasts calls for safeguards and bilateral coordination with Trump's dismissal of AI-risk warnings and Republican emphasis on winning the AI race, while noting China's own warnings and resistance to slowing development.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren is backing a pause on advanced AI development, breaking with Sen. Bernie Sanders by not endorsing a ban on superintelligence. The article frames the pause as gaining momentum among prominent Democrats while noting disagreement over regulation and the Trump administration's rejection.
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A lawyer leading lawsuits against OpenAI and Anthropic says the companies' leaders cannot be trusted, citing warnings from researchers that AI could cause human extinction. The article reports his comments and similar concerns from current and former employees, while noting Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI to prioritize safety.
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A Pro-Human Assembly organizer argues that AI self-regulation is a joke as debate over government oversight intensifies. The report notes calls for regulation from whistleblowers, tech CEOs, and bipartisan politicians while contrasting President Trump as dismissing AI concerns. MIT professor Max Tegmark also comments.
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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) criticized President Trump’s claim that AI risks are a “hoax,” calling the threat real and pointing to industry leaders who support guardrails. The article recounts Trump’s Truth Social posts dismissing AI dangers and notes support from AI CEOs for pacing development. It frames Trump’s position as out of step with both a Republican senator and AI industry figures.
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The article argues that data centers are essential infrastructure for US AI leadership, despite local concerns over energy and water use. It calls for smarter planning, including renewable co-investment, water-efficient cooling, impact fees, and community benefit agreements, to make data centers better partners with host communities.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized President Trump as “ignorant” and “embarrassing” on the dangers of AI. Trump defended his approach by saying a strong, smart president is the only guardrail AI needs. The article also notes tech leaders, including Anthropic’s CEO, urging slower and safer AI development.
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AFT President Randi Weingarten warns that AI should not be in charge in schools, stressing student privacy and the need for children to learn thinking and relationship skills before mastering the technology. She calls for federal action on AI safety and cites a Microsoft privacy agreement as a step toward reassuring parents.