This week’s tech policy landscape is marked by major AI developments, surveillance concerns, and congressional action on digital safety. Alibaba's unveiling of its latest AI reasoning model signals a new phase in global AI competition, while the U.S. Army's deployment of "CamoGPT" underscores how AI is reshaping military training. SpaceX's collaboration with the FAA raises questions about the privatization of critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, policymakers on Capitol Hill are turning their focus to tech oversight, with hearings in the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism set to examine emerging challenges in science funding and online child safety.

In this week’s Nimitz Tech:

• Aviation: As the FAA scrambles to fix its crumbling air traffic system, Musk’s Starlink hovers as both a solution and a source of controversy.

• Antitrust: The DOJ backs off forcing Google to sell its AI stakes—but the antitrust war is far from over.

• AI: Alibaba’s AI gambit just shook up the global tech race—QwQ-32B is here, and investors are taking notice.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, March 11th

• 🚀 House Hearing: “Member Day Hearing.” House Committee Science, Space, and Technology. Hearing scheduled for 10:00 AM in 2318 Rayburn HOB. Watch here.

• 📱 Senate Hearing: “Ending the Scourge: The Need for the STOP CSAM Act” Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. Hearing scheduled for 2:30 PM in 226 Dirksen SOB. Watch here.

TECH NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

In Washington

• The tech industry is pushing back against federal budget cuts that threaten critical science and technology programs, warning that reductions at agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) could undermine America’s global leadership in AI. Industry leaders and advocacy groups have sent letters to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House officials, arguing that these cuts jeopardize long-term innovation, weaken partnerships between government and private companies, and exacerbate the already tight pipeline of AI talent. While the Trump administration defends the reductions as a necessary step to curb government waste, experts caution that slashing funding for early-stage AI research could have long-term consequences, putting the U.S. at risk of losing its technological edge.

• SpaceX confirmed that it is providing Starlink satellite internet services to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for free but denied any attempt to replace Verizon’s $2.4 billion contract to modernize the agency’s telecommunications infrastructure. Instead, SpaceX stated that Starlink is being tested as a supplementary solution alongside fiber and wireless technologies in partnership with L3Harris, the current contractor responsible for the FAA’s system. Reports suggesting a Verizon contract cancellation fueled controversy, especially given Elon Musk’s close ties to the Trump administration and his role in government cost-cutting initiatives. Musk previously criticized Verizon for the FAA’s aging communication system but later clarified that L3Harris was responsible for its design. Concerns over Musk’s influence on aviation safety prompted Sen. Ed Markey to call for congressional testimony from Musk and FAA officials, questioning the role of private industry in critical public infrastructure.

• The U.S. Army is using an AI tool called CamoGPT to identify and remove references to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) from training materials, aligning with an executive order from President Trump aimed at eliminating what he deems "divisive" concepts in the military. The AI, initially developed to boost efficiency, is being deployed by the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to scan documents for targeted keywords and facilitate rapid content revisions. This effort is part of a broader push within the Pentagon to dismantle DEIA programs, including the closure of military diversity offices. It even attempts to erase historical content, such as materials on the Tuskegee Airmen, which faced public backlash. CamoGPT represents a growing trend of AI integration in military operations, with officials emphasizing its role in streamlining bureaucratic processes and enhancing operational readiness.

National

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has dropped its attempt to force Google to sell its AI investments, including its stake in OpenAI competitor Anthropic, as part of an ongoing antitrust case. While prosecutors initially argued that Google’s AI holdings could stifle competition in the search market, they later determined that a forced divestiture could have unintended consequences for the rapidly evolving AI industry. Instead, the DOJ now seeks court approval to require Google to notify the government of any future generative AI investments. The case remains a high-stakes battle over Big Tech’s market dominance, with Google continuing to challenge broader antitrust measures, including potential divestment of its Chrome browser.

• The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has introduced Rayhunter, an open-source tool designed to detect cell-site simulators (CSS), also known as Stingrays or IMSI catchers, which are used for surveillance by law enforcement and other entities. These devices impersonate legitimate cell towers to intercept mobile signals, allowing authorities to track users, log identifiers, and sometimes intercept communications. Rayhunter runs on an inexpensive mobile hotspot and monitors cellular traffic for suspicious activity, alerting users to potential threats. Unlike previous detection methods requiring rooted phones or expensive radio equipment, Rayhunter is designed for accessibility, enabling activists, journalists, and the general public to collect data on CSS use worldwide. The EFF aims to shed light on how these surveillance tools operate and provide empirical evidence to inform legal and policy efforts against their misuse.

International

• Alibaba's shares surged after the company unveiled QwQ-32B, its latest AI reasoning model designed to rival DeepSeek-R1. The model, which operates with 32 billion parameters, aims to enhance efficiency and performance in AI-driven tasks like mathematics and coding. This development highlights Alibaba’s continued investment in AI, particularly within its Cloud Intelligence unit, which has been a major driver of its recent financial success. Analysts predict that ongoing advancements in AI will fuel further stock gains and bolster the company’s long-term growth trajectory. With competition intensifying among global AI developers, Alibaba’s latest move positions it as a formidable player in the race for more powerful and efficient AI models.

FOR FUN

• 🥃 Women’s History Month Whiskey Tasting | 3/12 @ 5:30 p.m. | $50 | Riggs

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