White House science and technology adviser Michael Kratsios said on Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit that the Trump administration can be bullish on AI innovation and still address the public's growing fears about the technology.
Why it matters: Kratsios is the White House's point person translating Trump's AI executive orders into actual policy.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said on Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit that Congress needs to quickly pass legislation to ban AI chatbots from targeting minors.
Why it matters: As the White House rolls out its AI plan, Hawley, a potential 2028 presidential contender, is breaking with Republicans and carving out one of the toughest anti-AI positions in Congress.
HOUSTON — Instability is the defining mood at the world's most influential energy gathering this week — playing out in a split screen of oil markets jolted by the Iran war and an AI-supercharged power sector.
Why it matters: The vibe at the CERAWeek conference underscores how quickly the energy landscape has turned unpredictable, leaving billions in investment decisions — and what consumers ultimately pay — hanging in the balance.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled unanimously in favor of Cox Communications, setting a historic precedent that internet service providers are not liable for copyright infringement if they fail to disconnect customers who have been accused of pirating music.
Why it matters: The decision has major implications for the $17.7 billion U.S. recorded music industry, absolving ISPs of responsibility for pirated music.
Amazon is adding FedEx Office locations to its growing returns network, giving shoppers another place to make returns without a box, tape or printed label.
Why it matters:Returns are one of the biggest friction points in online shopping, and Amazon is expanding where — and how easily — customers can make them.
The future of warfare involves humans and machines working together, Lockheed Martin's chief technology officer Craig Martell predicted on Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit.
Why it matters: As the military expands autonomous weapon use, debates are intensifying over when or whether to trust these systems and who is accountable for mistakes or misfires.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said on Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit that placing a moratorium on the construction of AI data centers would be "idiocy," adding that it would grant China an edge in the race to dominate artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: Warner's comments come the same day that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) unveiled legislation to pause all new data center construction nationwide until AI safeguards are in place.
Humanity is undergoing a "transformation" in the AI era, Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit.
Why it matters: But the key word, she says, is "humanity."In a period of rapidly evolving innovation that has massive implications for the workforce and world, tech can't lose the guiding "soul" behind it.
The U.S. will need a "whole new workforce" within the next two years to be competitive in the AI race, Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit.
Why it matters: She says half a million electricians will be necessary to build the vast infrastructure needed in the U.S. alone.
A jury on Wednesday found Big Tech giants Meta and YouTube negligent in a landmark social media trial, awarding $3 million in compensation to a woman who argued the companies were to blame for her social media addiction.
Why it matters: It is rare that social media giants are found liable for any harms people may face using their platforms, and the verdict in the Los Angeles trial could lead to more court losses, more lawsuits and potentially online safety legislation.
America has no plan for how to manage an AI wipeout of jobs. Now, there are calls for lawmakers to design a safety net before any crisis emerges.
Why it matters: No one knows whether and how fast AI-related job displacement will ripple across the economy. Massive labor market disruptions of years past — including the "China shock" — had long-term economic and political consequences.
Some investors, former policymakers and economists are trying to draft the fiscal architecture that could help avoid a repeat.
I hadn't really used Sora in months, but oddly enough I used it this past weekend when Harvey suggested tossing bread into a toaster should be an Olympic event.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday will announce legislation to pause all new data center construction nationwide until AI safeguards are in place.
Why it matters: Sanders and AOC are staking out one of the most aggressive AI policy positions yet this Congress, colliding with the industry's rapid expansion.
Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday is launching Meta Small Business, a company-wide priority to support entrepreneurship and drive AI adoption.
Zuckerberg asks product managers, designers, engineers and other employees to reach out if they want to work on the new effort.
Why it matters: The plan leans into a Meta strength in the AI wars as competitors pursue large-scale enterprise. More than 250 million small businesses globally use Meta across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
It is "absolutely" possible that the U.S. and China reach an agreement on rules governing the future use of artificial intelligence, former Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks told Axios.
Why it matters: The technology is rapidly reshaping how people communicate, how companies do business and how militaries operate.
Airbase exited stealth Wednesday backed by Founders You Should Know, Squadra Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.
Why it matters: The New York startup is seeking to modernize the wonky — but incredibly important — world of wireless infrastructure and radio-frequency spectrum.
That has commercial, financial and military consequences, including for electronic warfare and tactical communications.
FORT POLK, La. —The windows of the Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company command post were plastered with black trash bags. The table at the center was littered with hot sauce, maps, cables and Nalgene bottles. Around it gathered a few men, faces painted, staring at small screens.
The plan for the night was simple: Use drones to spot, harass and kill the enemy. Taking out the mine-clearing line charges from afar would be critical to the defense of Dara Lam, a make-believe city in this sandy section of Louisiana.
"It kind of feels like cheating," one of the men said of the drones.
"Switchblades are artillery on easy mode," said another.
HOUSTON — The power surge fueled by the AI boom is catapulting novel battery storage technologies from niche to mainstream, with dealmaking revealed at a major industry gathering this week.
Why it matters: It's a marriage of urgent needs: The AI sector needs reliable power — fast. Battery companies need deep-pocketed customers.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Elon Musk as this generation's Thomas Edison — then accused the Tesla CEO of surrendering the electric vehicle market to China.
"It breaks my heart," Newsom said on a new episode of "The Axios Show," describing Musk as "one of the great disappointments" of our time.
Why it matters: China already holds 70% of the global EV market. Newsom argues Musk — the man who pioneered America's EV industry — is now accelerating that dominance by pivoting Tesla toward robotics.
