The Hill’s Julia Shapero and Mallory Wilson explore how Trump’s AI accord is being received in Washington amidst growing safety concerns about the technology.
Trump’s approach allows industry officials to self-police, but critics advocate for stronger oversight. Some see the accord as a positive step. An expert remarked that the administration’s intentions could be genuine, but the pledge does not prevent AI’s potential risks. Major industry players signed the concise document, emphasizing four control layers:
- Implementing strong internal model controls
- Empowering internal teams to verify controls and address issues
- Partnering with external auditors for control evaluation
- Establishing an independent board committee to oversee operating team reports
Legislators, including some from Trump’s own party, are skeptical. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) labeled it a “good step” but hesitated to fully trust AI executives.
Subscribe to The Hill’s Insider for more on Washington’s stance toward this “morally binding” agreement.
Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter. Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro track developments from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.
Essential Reads
How policy affects the tech sector now and in the future:
Progressives propose legislation against Flock cameras: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill to ban federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). The Ban Flock Act would restrict federal ALPR use and pause grant funding to governments with ALPR contracts, allowing Americans to sue the federal government.
NASA’s robots to aid lunar teams: At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Team develops machines for future lunar missions. These robots, beyond repetitive tasks, aim to assist humans on the moon.
Amazon commits $1 billion to data center communities: Amazon will invest over five years in community colleges, workforce training, and energy efficiency upgrades where it builds data centers. Amazon Web Services acknowledges community apprehensions regarding data centers.
The Refresh
News flagged at the intersection of tech and other topics:
- Anthropic warns government attitudes may harm customer relationships.
- OpenAI recruits a top Trump AI adviser for national security work.
Crypto Corner
SEC’s ‘crypto mom’ bids farewell.
Hester Peirce, dubbed “crypto mom” at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), leaves after eight years. She championed the industry as Washington’s digital asset views transformed.
“Serving at the SEC has been the honor of my professional life,” Peirce wrote, highlighting the United States’ commitment to liberty.
The SEC now has two commissioners: Chair Paul Atkins and Mark Uyeda, both Republican appointees. The bipartisan commission usually has five members. The SEC’s recently updated quorum rule now allows one commissioner to act as quorum if necessary.
Crypto Corner daily covers digital currency and Washington’s outlook.
In Other News
Explore further reads on The Hill:
Paramount and Warner Bros. reveal new name: After their merger, Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery will adopt a fresh name. David Ellison announced this milestone on social platform X, stating, “What once was the peak is now just the beginning.” The merge blends over a century of culture.
You’re caught up. See you next week!
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