Ohio Social Media Law for Minors Remains Blocked
A federal judge in Ohio has extended a legal block preventing the state from enforcing a law that would require children under 16 to obtain parental permission before using social media apps. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley issued the preliminary injunction Monday as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by NetChoice, a trade organization that represents major tech platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta. NetChoice argues the law violates free speech protections and is too broad and unclear. Ohio officials maintain the law is necessary to shield young people from the dangers of social media.
Kansas City Faces Pushback Over Facial Recognition on Public Buses
Kansas City, Missouri, is moving ahead with plans to install facial recognition cameras on its public bus system, though the rollout has hit delays due to technical problems, funding setbacks, and privacy concerns. City officials had hoped the cameras would be operational in time for World Cup matches that began being hosted there this week. The state withdrew its financial support, but the project is continuing with federal and local funding. SafeSpace Global, the company behind the technology, says it will improve passenger safety. Critics, however, are raising alarms about privacy rights and the potential for misuse. Extra law enforcement officers have been deployed during the World Cup to maintain security in the meantime.
Federal Regulators Push Grid Operators to Accommodate AI Data Centers
Federal energy regulators have directed regional electric grid operators to speed up the process of connecting large power consumers to the country’s aging and overburdened transmission network. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says the move is necessary to keep pace with the rapidly growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence data centers. The commission noted that states will retain control over retail electric rates and related conditions. The order comes as public frustration mounts over data centers’ enormous consumption of energy and water, as well as concerns about noise, air pollution, and the loss of open land and farmland.
World Cup Fans Frustrated by Ticket Failures Through Resale Sites
While excitement has been high on the soccer field at the World Cup, many fans have taken to social media to express anger over tickets that never showed up, orders canceled without warning, and lengthy attempts to resolve issues between FIFA’s ticketing system and third-party resale platforms. A large portion of complaints have been directed at industry leader StubHub, though buyers have also reported problems with competitors SeatGeek and Vivid Seats. Experts and fans say some issues stem from technical glitches, while others may involve sellers who never actually had tickets to sell. FIFA has stated that purchases made through its official website are guaranteed.
Sanders Proposes Public Ownership Stake in Major AI Companies
Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a proposal that would give American citizens a direct ownership interest in the nation’s largest artificial intelligence companies. The legislation, first shared with The Associated Press, calls for a one-time 50% tax on the stock of top AI firms, with those shares placed into a sovereign wealth fund managed by an independent commission. Sanders estimates the fund could reach approximately $7 trillion in value and generate annual payments to the American public. While the concept of public AI ownership has received backing from President Donald Trump and some AI industry leaders, Sanders’ version would go further by giving the public actual decision-making authority within those companies.
AI Industry Money Floods New York Congressional Race
A New York Democratic state assemblyman named Alex Bores is running for a seat in Congress, and the race has turned into a multimillion-dollar battleground over artificial intelligence policy. A political group funded by investors in OpenAI has spent more than $7 million on advertisements opposing Bores, targeting his push for AI regulation. On the other side, a group backed by Anthropic has poured more than $10 million into supporting his campaign. The central issue is Bores’ RAISE Act, a proposed AI safety law. The Manhattan-based district leans liberal, making the heavy involvement of the tech industry all the more notable.
Nvidia CEO Calls for New Social Norms in the Age of AI
The head of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, whose company’s work has been central to the rise of artificial intelligence, says society must adapt to a world shaped by AI. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press in Sherman, Texas, Huang expressed optimism about AI’s potential to accelerate economic growth and scientific discovery, while also acknowledging criticism about job losses and broader risks to humanity. “We need to create new social norms,” Huang said. “I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it.”
Nvidia Bets AI Will Create Manufacturing Jobs in Texas
Nvidia is positioning artificial intelligence as a driver of American manufacturing growth, announcing a major AI infrastructure expansion as part of a $2 billion partnership with Coherent. The effort centers on a Texas factory that produces materials used in lasers that improve chip performance. CEO Jensen Huang argues that AI will generate jobs rather than eliminate them. Nvidia is shifting its focus from chip development alone to building complete AI systems, with production based in the United States. The Texas factory is projected to create 1,000 jobs, and the AI sector has garnered support from both political parties as a priority for economic growth and national security.
Tech Entrepreneur Killed in Texas Plane Crash
A well-known technology entrepreneur named Joshua Baer died this week when a small business jet crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas. Baer was the founder of an Austin-based venture capital firm that backed a wide range of tech startups, from robotics to autonomous ships, and was widely credited with helping fuel Austin’s technology scene. His LinkedIn profile featured him wearing a black T-shirt with the message, “I help people quit jobs.” The aircraft went down after the pilots reported mechanical trouble and requested an emergency landing at a nearby airport.
French President Calls for Global AI Cooperation
French President Emmanuel Macron is urging the United States to share access to advanced artificial intelligence technology rather than limiting it to American interests, and is calling on democratic nations to work together on AI regulation. Speaking at a high-level gathering in France, Macron criticized U.S. restrictions on foreign access to cutting-edge AI systems. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking at the G7 summit, also called for an international body to set AI safety standards. A recent White House directive involving Anthropic’s AI models has deepened European concerns about U.S. dominance in the tech sector. Macron warned that restricting access could ultimately hurt American companies and pledged to increase investment in France’s own AI industry.
