GLOBAL AI DEVELOPMENT

The global race for AI implementation & improvement

• Spain to grant $155M in subsidies to boosts domestic AI adoption

• Developing nations will fall further behind without taking these AI resilience measures

• Poland is furious over US restrictions on AI chip exports

• To the leader of the AI compute race will go the spoils

• UK government announces new AI tools in effort to expand public services

REGULATION & SAFETY

Law, lobbying & potential risks

• OpenAI dramatically increases lobbying spend to shape AI policy

• Trump’s plan to make the US an AI superpower means reduced regulations

• Why Congress must act now to change AI copyright law

• How AGI development timelines impact the approach to AI safety

• Massachusetts lawmaker proposes new legislation to crack down on AI use

AI GOVERNANCE

The latest government programs & implementations

• Tech giants clash over Trump $500B AI project

• New York Governor targets workforce development for Micron’s semiconductor facility

• These universities just formed a consortium to integrate AI skills into college curriculums

• Arizona charter school to launch AI-led grade school curriculum

• Brookings: For AI to improve government efficiency, safety and transparency are critical

DEFENSE

Weapons, tech, research & contracts

• Google reportedly developed AI tools for the Israeli military

• Pentagon official boasts of AI’s ability to enhance killing

• The CIA is using AI models to predict the behavior of world leaders

• US to restrict AI chip exports to China, non-allied nations

• DOD names officials temporarily helming key tech offices as the Pentagon awaits new leadership

Funding AI education, industry immersion, and career assistance to those who have served our nation.

What’s happening in AI policy right now

Trump’s AI infrastructure play hits early hurdles

The Stargate vision 

Trump's ambitious $500 billion Stargate AI infrastructure initiative aims to build massive computing centers across the United States, starting with a $100 billion initial phase. While securing $7 billion from UAE-based MGX marks a start, the funding represents just 7% of even that smaller first goal.

Musk pushes back

Elon Musk's public skepticism about the project's financial viability has forced the White House to defend the initiative, revealing fault lines among tech leaders who will be crucial to its success. The involvement of OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank suggests serious private sector interest; however, Musk's critique highlights legitimate questions about how to bridge the massive funding gap.

The new regulatory framework 

The project arrives alongside significant policy shifts. Trump's recent executive order replaces Biden-era AI policies with a new framework focused on reducing regulatory constraints and economic competitiveness. The timing is notable - just as Stargate seeks to attract major international funding, the administration is positioning itself as business-friendly to AI development. This raises questions about balancing national security concerns against foreign capital, particularly given the UAE royal family's controversial background.

Technical reality 

Beyond the funding challenges, Stargate faces practical hurdles in its execution. The project proposes using renewable energy to power its data centers, a nod to both environmental concerns and operational costs. But building and operating AI infrastructure at this scale involves complex technical trade-offs that go far beyond securing solar panels and battery storage.

Looking ahead 

For the initiative to succeed, several key questions need answers:

1. How will the remaining 93% of even initial funding be secured?

2. Can political objectives align with technical and operational realities?

3. Will tensions between key industry figures like Musk and OpenAI's Sam Altman impact execution?

4. How will international investment be balanced against national security concerns?

The coming months will be crucial as the White House's newly appointed team develops its comprehensive AI action plan. While ambitious infrastructure projects often face skepticism, the scale of Stargate and its position at the intersection of AI, politics, and international investment makes it a uniquely challenging endeavor.

What's clear is that the success or failure of this initiative could significantly impact America's position in the global AI race - not just through its direct outcomes, but through what it reveals about our ability to coordinate massive technological initiatives in an increasingly complex political and economic landscape.