Tech Policy

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has told Politico’s Decoded program that the world should accept some negative consequences in exchange for the benefits of artificial intelligence. The comments come amid intense global debate over AI safety, copyright, labor disruption and regulatory pathways, and have quickly reignited discussion across the tech industry, regulators and public opinion about the boundaries of risk tolerance. They also underscore the persistent gap between Altman’s framing of AI governance and that of governments around the world.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly criticised the AI industry’s political spending as ineffective, urging peers to rethink strategy as US states prepare another wave of AI legislation.

Core Summary California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly stated on September 17 that he is seriously considering convening a state legislature special session or issuing an executive order to accelerate the construction of a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence technology. This statement demonstrates the urgency felt by the California state government in addressing the employment impacts, information authenticity issues, and ethical risks brought by the rapid proliferation of generative AI. California may become one of the first US states to establish a systematic AI regulatory system. ...

Core Summary Republican politicians in the United States are collectively turning against large-scale data center construction, warning AI companies that these facilities have become “politically radioactive,” according to an Axios exclusive report. This shift marks a deepening rift between the tech industry and conservative allies, potentially impacting the pace of U.S. AI infrastructure expansion. Multiple tech giants had planned to invest hundreds of billions over the next two years in data center construction, now facing growing grassroots resistance. ...

China announces sweeping capital market reforms to channel $28 trillion into AI research and development, marking a strategic push to challenge US dominance in artificial intelligence.

White House Plans to Keep AI Regulatory Framework Under Wraps [Core Summary] According to Axios, the White House plans to keep its upcoming AI regulatory framework confidential, withholding details from public disclosure. This move has sparked intense competition between Silicon Valley tech giants and the government over AI rule-making authority. Executives from Meta, Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have held urgent meetings with Trump advisers to discuss potential risks of “rogue AI agents.” ...

A US Senate committee has passed a bill aimed at restricting Chinese-made connected vehicles from the American market, citing national security concerns over data collection and software supply chains.

The FTC and state attorneys general reached a landmark settlement with John Deere, granting farmers and independent repair shops full access to repair tools and documentation. The deal marks a major victory for the right-to-repair movement.

According to the Financial Times, OpenAI is in discussions to offer the US government approximately a 5% equity stake, aiming to give the American public a financial interest in AI while easing political scrutiny.

UK Information Commissioner John Edwards resigns citing inappropriate humour. He has led the data watchdog since January 2022.