As Washington continues to operate under the strain of a prolonged government shutdown and a House that remains stalled in extended recess, tech policy implications are hardly on pause. This week’s developments highlight how quickly the technology landscape is shifting, even as legislative action lags. From Saudi Arabia’s bid to become a global A.I. computing hub and Cal State’s deepening integration with Big Tech, to new labor pushes for “worker-centered” A.I., expanding surveillance networks, and a Trump administration proposal to speed data-center grid connections, the debate over who shapes the future of A.I. and public infrastructure is accelerating. And on the Hill, the Senate Commerce Committee will return to the high-profile fight over government pressure on tech platforms with Part II of “Shut Your App.” Below, we break down what matters — and why it’s likely to shape the policy fights waiting on the other side of the impasse.

In this week’s Nimitz Tech:

• Left: Bernie Sanders says OpenAI is too powerful — and warns that A.I. could upend both the economy and human relationships if left unchecked.

• Labor: America’s largest labor coalition is making it clear: the future of A.I. must work for workers, not replace them.

• Gulf: Saudi Arabia is aiming to swap oil power for A.I. power—and it’s spending billions to make the world notice.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Wednesday, October 29th

• Senate Commerce: “Part II of Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans” at 10am. Watch here.

TECH NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

In Washington

• The Trump administration has proposed a new rule aimed at speeding up the process for connecting A.I. data centers to the U.S. electric grid, a move intended to support rapid expansion of the power-hungry facilities. Energy Secretary Chris Wright submitted the plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, suggesting that data centers with their own “dispatchable” power sources — often fossil fuel or nuclear energy, or renewables supported by battery storage — should receive expedited grid connection reviews. While the administration argues the change is needed to bolster economic growth and maintain an edge over China in A.I. development, critics warn that accelerating data center expansion could drive up electricity prices and increase carbon emissions. The final decision now rests with the divided FERC panel, which must weigh economic ambitions against environmental and consumer-cost concerns.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders argued that the government should break up OpenAI, framing artificial intelligence as a disruptive force with potentially “enormous transformational” consequences for workers and society. In a new interview, he warned that widespread automation could fuel massive job losses, undermine small businesses, and eliminate entry-level work opportunities while benefitting wealthy tech investors like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison. Sanders also voiced concern about A.I.’s effect on human connection, pointing to emerging “A.I. companion” products as evidence of a troubling move away from real interpersonal relationships. He further expressed worry about the development of superintelligent systems, echoing recent calls from leading A.I. researchers and technologists to halt such work until it can be proven safe.

• A new letter from Senator Ron Wyden reveals that multiple federal agencies—including Homeland Security Investigations (ICE’s criminal division), the Secret Service, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service—had access to Flock Safety’s nationwide system of AI-enabled cameras that track the movement of vehicles and, in some cases, people. These tens of thousands of cameras feed into a national search tool that police departments can opt into, allowing agencies across the country to track individuals without warrants or public oversight. Wyden argues that the system is ripe for abuse and that Flock has shown no meaningful interest in preventing misuse, urging local governments to remove the cameras entirely. Civil liberties advocates warn that the system enables dragnet surveillance that can be used against immigrants, abortion seekers, and others, citing recent documented cases. As communities reevaluate the cameras, critics say the only reliable safeguard is requiring law enforcement to obtain warrants before accessing such data — otherwise, widespread surveillance abuse is only a matter of time.

National

• The AFL-CIO, representing nearly 15 million workers across 63 unions, has launched a “workers first initiative on AI” calling for stronger collective bargaining, legal safeguards, and regulatory oversight to prevent artificial intelligence from undermining labor rights. The federation’s priorities include protecting workers from A.I.-driven surveillance and layoffs, ensuring transparency in publicly funded A.I. systems, offering retraining programs, and giving workers a direct role in A.I. development and procurement decisions. While the organization emphasizes that collective bargaining is a proven way to navigate technological transitions, it also seeks new state and federal legislation requiring worker involvement as A.I. expands across industries. Despite setbacks such as California’s recent veto of a bill limiting A.I.-enabled workplace discipline, the AFL-CIO says bipartisan momentum and growing concern over unchecked A.I. power make this a pivotal moment to shape a “worker-centered technological future.”

• California State University, the country’s largest public university system, is partnering with major tech companies—including Amazon, OpenAI, and Nvidia—to become the “largest A.I.-empowered” university by integrating generative A.I. tools, training programs, and industry-designed curricula across its 22 campuses. The initiative includes a $16.9 million deal to give more than half a million students and staff access to ChatGPT Edu, Amazon-powered A.I. training camps, and advisory input from large tech corporations on the skills students should learn. Supporters argue this prepares students for a rapidly changing job market, while critics warn that universities are ceding academic independence to corporate interests, promoting unproven technologies, and sidestepping concerns around bias, environmental impact, student cheating, and critical thinking. The effort reflects a broader national shift as tech giants push to shape how students learn A.I., even as faculty members question whether education is being redesigned to serve public needs—or private profit.

International

• Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is investing billions to transform itself from a major oil exporter into a global hub for artificial intelligence by building massive data center complexes that leverage its cheap energy, available land, and strategic geography. The new state-backed company Humain aims to handle around 6 percent of the world’s A.I. computing workload, drawing interest from tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and potentially Elon Musk’s xAI, even as critics question the kingdom’s limited A.I. talent pool and warn of possible overcapacity. The project also intersects with geopolitical tensions, as Saudi Arabia tries to balance U.S. access to advanced chips with ongoing ties to China. The country hopes that by offering lower-cost computing and flexible legal zones, it can become the world’s next major epicenter for A.I. innovation and influence.

Just for Fun

🪡 Adult Intermediate Embroidery at Shepherd Park Library (Tue. 10/28)

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