The Future Is Now—But Who’s in Control? From AI shaping battlefields to Apple’s record-breaking U.S. investment, this week’s biggest technology stories underscore the growing tension between innovation, regulation, and ethical responsibility. A groundbreaking lawsuit in California is taking on data brokers, while a new method for aligning AI with political preferences raises deep questions about bias in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Congress is zeroing in on the future of space—one hearing examines the future of space mining, while another looks at NASA’s Artemis program and the long-term vision for human exploration beyond Earth. Coincidence? As policymakers grapple with the accelerating pace of technology, one thing is clear: the rules of the game are still being written.

In this week’s Nimitz Tech:

• Trump: What if AI models could be aligned with the political will of the electorate rather than their default biases? A new technique suggests that GroK could become more like Trump.

• Data: California is cracking down on data brokers, proving that strong privacy laws mean nothing without enforcement.

• War: AI is changing the battlefield, but at what cost? A new investigation reveals how U.S. tech companies are quietly powering Israel’s war efforts—raising ethical and humanitarian concerns.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, February 25th

• 🪨 House Hearing: “Full Blast: Contrasting Momentum in the Space Mining Economy to the Terrestrial Mining Regulatory Morass.” House Committee on the Natural Resources, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Hearing scheduled for 10:15 AM in 1324HR Longworth HOB. Watch here.

Wednesday, February 26th

• 🚀 House Hearing: “Step by Step: The Artemis Program and NASA's Path to Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond.” House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Hearing scheduled for 10:00 AM in 2318 Rayburn HOB. Watch here.

TECH NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

In Washington

• Dan Hendrycks, an adviser to Elon Musk’s xAI and director of the Center for AI Safety, has developed a method to measure and manipulate AI models’ entrenched preferences, including their political biases. By applying an economic technique to assess AI utility functions, Hendrycks and his team found that models consistently express certain values, which become more ingrained as they scale. The study revealed that leading AI models align more closely with Joe Biden’s policies than those of other politicians and introduced a “Citizen Assembly” approach to recalibrate an AI’s values based on census data. Hendrycks argues that instead of blocking unwanted outputs, shifting a model’s utility functions could better align AI with democratic outcomes, though experts caution that the research remains preliminary.

• Apple has announced a $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years, its largest-ever commitment, aimed at expanding research, chip manufacturing, and AI development while creating 20,000 new jobs. The plan includes a new AI server factory in Texas, an Apple Manufacturing Academy in Michigan, and increased operations in California, Arizona, and Washington. Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the company's commitment to American innovation, while former President Trump, who met with Cook before the announcement, touted the investment as a win for domestic manufacturing. While Apple made a similar $430 billion pledge in 2021, the new commitment reinforces its long-term focus on U.S.-based production, technology, and workforce development.

• A coalition of organic farmers and environmental groups has sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its recent removal of climate-related data and resources from government websites. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that the purge—ordered on January 30—deprived farmers of essential tools for planning, adaptation, and securing conservation funding, while also freezing promised financial support. Plaintiffs, including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and the Natural Resources Defense Council, claim the USDA’s actions were politically motivated and violated federal law. Farmers like Wes Gillingham, who has experienced devastating climate-related losses, warn that without access to critical climate data, agricultural communities will struggle to survive worsening extreme weather.

National

• In a rare move to enforce online privacy laws, California has sued data broker National Public Data for failing to comply with its new data deletion requirements, signaling a serious push to hold companies accountable. The state’s Delete Act, set to take effect next year, allows residents to request the deletion of personal data across all registered brokers, with noncompliant firms facing daily fines. Privacy advocates see this as a major step toward curbing widespread noncompliance with data privacy laws, which have largely gone unenforced in other states. While only Californians can currently benefit from the law, other states like Vermont and Nebraska are considering similar measures, potentially making California a model for nationwide data privacy protections.

• The launch of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model rivaling U.S. technology at a lower cost, has reignited debates over America's AI strategy, with some using it to justify deregulation and industry consolidation. However, history shows that groundbreaking AI advancements have come from startups, not monopolistic tech giants, as dominant companies often suppress disruptive innovations to protect their existing business models. DeepSeek’s success highlights the power of open-source AI, which accelerates technological proliferation and broadens its applications across industries. To maintain leadership, the U.S. must prioritize competitive markets, strengthen antitrust enforcement, and support AI startups through policies that foster innovation rather than funneling them into corporate acquisitions. At the same time, as AI advances become more accessible, regulatory safeguards must evolve to ensure responsible development and mitigate potential risks. Rather than fearing DeepSeek, the U.S. should see it as proof that competition fuels progress and an opportunity to reinforce its leadership in AI.

International

• An Associated Press investigation has uncovered that Israel has significantly increased its use of AI-powered systems from Microsoft and OpenAI to identify and strike targets in Gaza and Lebanon. The surge in AI usage since the October 7 Hamas attack has fueled concerns that commercial AI models—originally developed for civilian applications—are now being used in warfare, contributing to a rising civilian death toll. While Israeli officials argue AI improves targeting accuracy, reports of faulty data and misidentifications highlight the risks of over-reliance on automated decision-making. Meanwhile, major U.S. tech firms, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, continue to provide cloud and AI infrastructure to Israel’s military, despite growing pushback from employees and human rights advocates. As AI becomes more integrated into warfare, the ethical and regulatory challenges surrounding its deployment remain largely unaddressed.

FOR FUN

• 🥼 Science of Reading Talk | 3/1 @ 10 a.m. | $15 | Planet Word

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