Dan Osborn, an independent running for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska, found common ground with a 'hardcore MAGA' voter over AI and data centers. This connection led Osborn to sign the AI Pact, a set of five promises aimed at regulating both AI and data centers. The pact, an offshoot of the Political Integrity Project, includes advocating for mandatory safety reviews for AI models and supporting policies for an AI dividend for workers. (Source: wired)
The pact does not call for an explicit moratorium on data centers but instead supports policies that ban tax breaks, backroom deals, and excessive energy use for them. This measured language is intentional, according to Daniel Lobo-Lewis, one of the founders, who says it serves as a 'floor' for candidates, especially those with strong ties to labor. Several labor unions have recently reaffirmed their support for data center construction. (Source: wired)
The AI Pact is gaining traction as politicians debate whether data center concerns are linked to AI worries. Governors like Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Texas’s Greg Abbott have taken steps to assure voters about regulating data centers. Abbott recently initiated a temporary moratorium on data center construction. Meanwhile, the White House is developing a voluntary safety review for AI models, while Trump has met with AI executives on a worker dividend for AI profits. (Source: wired)
Source: wired
