All articles tagged with #tech companies
House Speaker Mike Johnson argued on CNN that AI safety is primarily the responsibility of developers and tech companies, not lawmakers, while signaling openness to talks with industry leaders on safeguards. The stance comes as AI executives urge slowing progress and as other politicians push for faster action, highlighting a split on how to balance innovation with safety and national security.
Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan warns against letting tech CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg shape AI policy and says Congress would hold hearings if Democrats win the House; she has helped broker a bipartisan AI-safety package with Rep. Jay Obernolte, highlighting ongoing disagreements over regulatory approaches. The live updates also note midterm-focused moves, including Rep. James Talarico’s grocery-drive counter‑program to Trump’s visit and Rep. Joe Morelle urging states to speed ballot counting to deter misinformation, as leadership curtails the agenda and risks stalling AI, data-center, and voting-rights priorities.
A Competere Foundation model estimates that South Korea’s proposed Online Platform Fairness Act could reduce U.S. states’ economic activity by about $525 billion over the next decade, including roughly $123 billion for California, $48.7 billion for Texas, and smaller but still multi‑billion losses for several others. The bill would expand the Korea Fair Trade Commission’s authority over certain transactions with U.S. firms, a move critics say targets American tech companies and could advantage Chinese competitors, while supporters argue it addresses discriminatory domestic practices. Prominent Republicans in Congress criticize the plan as economically harmful and strategically misaligned with longstanding U.S.–Korea ties.
The House will debate the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require utilities to adopt a “large load” standard and have data-center builders pay for grid upgrades to power AI, effectively making tech firms cover a portion of AI-related electricity costs. The measure codifies the White House pledge and has bipartisan support, but its path to becoming law remains uncertain, with major operators like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and SpaceX’s xAI involved in the debate.
Tech giants such as OpenAI and Anthropic are funding AI-focused super PACs that have spent about $37 million to back candidates from both major parties in the 2026 US midterms, a strategy aimed at influencing AI and data-center policy while potentially squeezing out non-establishment candidates.
Trump unveiled a voluntary 'ratepayer protection pledge' with Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI and Amazon to power data centers and grid infrastructure while promising lower electricity bills for consumers; enforcement would come from states and regulators rather than a federal mandate, and experts say the pledge lacks teeth without federal rules.
President Trump is promoting a nonbinding White House pledge with seven tech giants to fund new electricity generation to power the data-center boom and prevent consumer electricity price increases, but experts question its enforceability and impact since electricity regulation is largely state-based. The Iran crisis and a shift toward exporting natural gas add pressure on prices, potentially complicating the administration’s messaging as a White House ceremony with major tech companies looms and Democratic critics link costs to policy debates.
Imran Ahmed, a UK-based anti-disinformation campaigner and CEO of CCDH, faces US government sanctions and potential deportation after being accused of pressuring tech firms to censor American viewpoints, which he denies, asserting his work aims for accountability and transparency in social media and AI.
Democratic senators are investigating whether major tech companies are passing the high energy costs of their data centers onto American consumers, amid concerns over rising electricity bills, environmental impact, and lack of transparency and regulation. They seek more information from companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, and highlight the growing energy consumption and climate costs associated with data centers.
Dragoneer raised $4.3 billion for its seventh VC fund, surpassing expectations in a slow fundraising year, bringing its total assets under management to over $30 billion, with notable investments including OpenAI, Airbnb, and Uber.
The article discusses recent widespread layoffs in major companies, many citing AI as a reason, amid a softening job market and economic uncertainties. While layoffs are high, data suggests overall employment loss is not increasing significantly, but youth unemployment remains high. The link between AI and job cuts is uncertain, with companies possibly using AI as a justification for cost-cutting rather than a direct cause.
Italian tech firm Bending Spoons is acquiring AOL from Yahoo with a $2.8 billion debt package, aiming to expand its digital portfolio and invest in R&D and future M&A, marking a new chapter for the historic internet brand.
President Donald Trump is raising funds from major corporations, including tech giants and crypto firms, for a $300 million White House ballroom project, with donations managed through a nonprofit, amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
New York City has sued major social media companies, including Meta, Google, Snap, and ByteDance, accusing them of negligence and designing addictive platforms that harm youth mental health, citing data on teen screen time, sleep loss, school absences, and dangerous trends like subway surfing influenced by social media.
Palantir Technologies and Anduril have dismissed reports claiming security flaws in their systems as inaccurate, defending their security measures against the allegations.