St. Louis, Missouri City Council has been considering a local ordinance to pause data center development. Before this could happen, the mayor acted. An executive order has been issued that requires data center developments to disclose both water and energy use, job creation numbers, and distance from nearby neighborhoods, and noise pollution.
Open AI announces 5 new AI data centers
OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank have announced 5 new AI data center projects this week. This in addition to its flagship site in Abilene, Texas. The new locations include two additional Texas locations: Milam County and locations in Shackelford County, Texas.
The 3 additional location are Doña Ana County, New Mexico; and a site in the Midwest. These sites are included in the $500 AI investment these partners announced in January.
Open AI | OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank expand Stargate with five new AI data center sites
Meta’s new AI PAC
Meta has pledged tens of millions to support the company’s efforts in state legislatures.
Bonjour, to the new super PAC— the American Technology Excellence Project. A goal is to champion stateside tech future. NYTimes says Meta is likely to be one the largest spenders in the 2026 midterm elections
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AI adoption declining
A biweekly update from the US Census Bureau found that of the 1.2 million businesses surveyed, AI use among large businesses has dropped from 14% to under 12% from June to August.
Futurism | Data Shows That AI Use Is Now Declining at Large Companies
Quantum, a blue ocean strategy
Fairfax County, Virginia’s support of quantum computing is being called a blue ocean opportunity. Harvard Business Review tells us blue ocean opportunities are defined as “demand is created rather than fought over. There is ample opportunity for growth that is both profitable and rapid.” This means the industries aren’t fully evolved yet.
Virginia says the only states that are also competing for quantum computing are Illinois and Colorado. You all know this because we started talking about Illinois and Colorado way back in January 2024.
Route Fifty | How quantum became a ‘blue ocean’ opportunity for a Virginia county
Anatomy of the opposition to a state privacy bill
Ah…the Information Age, a time when you publicly do not oppose a data privacy bill, but organize the opposition and believe that all this will remain hidden. A tech company organized opposition to AB566 which amends California’s Privacy Act. All the while publicly in California the company did not publicly oppose the bill. However, behind the scenes, it emailed business owners across the country alleging that the bill will “hurt your ability to use online ads to reach customers.” The MarkUp
Curbing catastrophic AI harm
Legislation to curb catastrophic AI harm is moving through NY and CA Legislatures. California’s SB 53 is headed to the Governor’s desk, S6953B. Is awaiting action by New York’s Governor.
The bills seek to “establish rules aiming to prevent the most advanced, large-scale artificial intelligence models — known as frontier AI models — from causing catastrophic harm involving dozens of casualties or billion-dollar damages.”
Arguments calling for a veto include the usual- stifle innovation, patchwork of state laws, liability, and free speech. The NetChoice veto request letter.
Bill regulates AI companion chatbots
California Legislature is close to final enactment of SB 243 that will protect vulnerable users of AI chatbots. California would be the first state to regulate AI chatbots and hold them accountable. We’ve all seen the slew of media on the negative impact of AI chatbots on vulnerable users. This bill would specifically address Ai chatbots engaging in suicidal ideation, self-harm, or sexually explicit content.
TechCrunch | A California bill that would regulate AI companion chatbots is close to becoming law
AI age controls
The American Psychological Association suggests that AI regulations need age controls and chatbot tailoring for children. AI development is moving so fast, and AI is learning largely on adult information which does not align with the developing brains of children.
NextGov | Psychology experts call for AI age controls and chatbot tailoring
How to impact local bitcoin operations
In a rural area outside Grandbury, TX residents are petitioning to form the town of Mitchell Bend so as to address what they see as nuisance issues and property value declines related to a bitcoin operation.