Artificial intelligence
Pennsylvania governor signs data center executive order. Critics say it falls short.
Josh Shapiro's executive order directs developers to comply with previously proposed standards that were introduced as voluntary.
Iowa academics launch tool to help localities weigh proposed data centers
The Iowa Data Center Decision Tool helps communities decide if data centers are right for them by identifying key questions they should ask about a project’s impact.
The data center industry’s PR blitz Is backfiring
Front group lauds purported benefits of data centers without disclosing its backer.
Data center audit lacks specifics even as Gov. Abbott, industry leaders tout it
Without key details on the audits but the eagerness to support them, policy watchers question how impactful these audits will be in curbing data center growth.
The precision pivot: The case for local, lean and governed AI
COMMENTARY | Organizations that will lead on AI adoption will not necessarily be those with the largest models or deepest budgets. They will be asking how to best deploy it.
OpenAI Foundation gives $100 million fund state AI implementation for public health
The organization announced the launch of the Breakthroughs to Follow-Through Initiative, which will implement artificial intelligence tools in public health research work.
The great AI escape(s): Now what?
COMMENTARY | Trust in agentic AI cannot be based on faith in vendors’ marketing. Leaders must engineer, require and verify that trust exists when they purchase a product.
Report finds most data centers in urban, not rural, areas
Researchers at New York University found that 97.5% of existing data centers sit in metro areas, counter to the industry narrative that most are in rural regions.
Schools spend billions on AI, but struggle to figure out what’s worth buying
Educators and experts say districts are carrying much of the burden of vetting products on their own.
How a research paper helped spark Utah’s data center water law
What began as an effort by three fellows at the Aspen Institute resulted in a push to bring more transparency around how data centers consume water in the state.
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Senate Finance panel’s top Dem proposes excise tax on new data centers
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden’s draft white paper calls for a new tax on hyperscalers and data center operators.
As AI ‘therapists’ dish out advice, California lawmakers try to set some limits
A new bill would stop companies from marketing chatbots as therapy and force stricter oversight of AI in mental health care.
State AGs call for transparency from OpenAI after unprecedented Hugging Face hack
More than a dozen attorneys general are demanding answers from OpenAI after a cyber intrusion.
Powering the ballot: Why AI’s energy footprint is the ultimate midterm election issue
COMMENTARY | Americans are pushing back against the power demands of AI buildout. Data centers should use existing technology to ease that strain before asking for ratepayers to stump up.
How the Texas transportation department has embraced AI
From traffic management, to collecting and analyzing crash data, to helping employees be more efficient, the agency has embraced the tech and encouraged responsible adoption while doing so.
AI is being used to boost Medicaid enrollment, but not without concerns
A health plan in California will use an AI program to schedule appointments and remind Medicaid enrollees to fill out paperwork. The plan says it can do the work of 40 employees at a fraction of the cost.
Data center approvals in Texas halted until audits completed, Gov. Greg Abbott says
On Monday, the governor ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all data centers wanting to connect to the state’s power grid.
Beyond the note-taker: What city managers should demand from meeting intelligence
COMMENTARY | General AI tools and note-takers fall short of what is required to act on decisions made. Several key questions help separate a note-taker from meeting intelligence.
Community opposition helped block $170B in data center projects, report finds
A lack of transparency around ownership, power and water requirements was cited as the most common issue in 46 cancelled projects across a two-year period in 20 states.
From pilot to proof: How revenue agencies can launch AI responsibly
COMMENTARY | Leaders typically face constrained budgets, staffing gaps and complex fraud. AI can help address one of those issues, if it is tested properly and can work well under strain.
