Google's comments on the U.S. AI Action Plan
(google)
AI isn’t just a scientific breakthrough — it’s a breakthrough in how we make breakthroughs. Already we’re seeing how AI can revolutionize healthcare, accelerate scientific discovery, and transform our economy for the better.
AI isn’t just a scientific breakthrough — it’s a breakthrough in how we make breakthroughs. Already we’re seeing how AI can revolutionize healthcare, accelerate scientific discovery, and transform our economy for the better.
Tesla products now excluded from B.C. Hydro rebates in response to U.S. tariffs
(cbc.ca)
B.C. Hydro has excluded Tesla products from its electric vehicle charger rebate program in response to U.S. tariffs.
B.C. Hydro has excluded Tesla products from its electric vehicle charger rebate program in response to U.S. tariffs.
Trump's Call to Scrap 'Horrible' Chip Program Spreads Panic
(nytimes.com)
As President Trump addressed Congress last week, he veered off script to attack a sensitive topic, the CHIPS Act, a bipartisan law aimed at making the United States less reliant on Asia for semiconductors.
As President Trump addressed Congress last week, he veered off script to attack a sensitive topic, the CHIPS Act, a bipartisan law aimed at making the United States less reliant on Asia for semiconductors.
Why most countries are struggling to shut down 2G
(restofworld.org)
Telecom companies aim to profit from the 2G-to-5G transition as governments worldwide face pressure to free up mobile spectrum.
Telecom companies aim to profit from the 2G-to-5G transition as governments worldwide face pressure to free up mobile spectrum.
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
(whitehouse.gov)
CREATING A STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE AND DIGITAL ASSET STOCKPILE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, positioning the United States as a leader among nations in government digital asset strategy.
CREATING A STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE AND DIGITAL ASSET STOCKPILE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, positioning the United States as a leader among nations in government digital asset strategy.
UK homes install subsidised heat pumps at record level
(bbc.co.uk)
The number of UK homes installing heat pumps supported by government-funded incentives rose to a record level last year.
The number of UK homes installing heat pumps supported by government-funded incentives rose to a record level last year.
Groceries in the U.S. remain expensive; more states want to stop taxing them
(apnews.com)
The number of states imposing sales taxes on groceries has shrunk over the years, and the number may decrease further in the coming months as lawmakers hear complaints about high prices for eggs and other household staples.
The number of states imposing sales taxes on groceries has shrunk over the years, and the number may decrease further in the coming months as lawmakers hear complaints about high prices for eggs and other household staples.
U.S. Commerce to Overhaul 'Internet for All' Plan, a Potential Boon for Starlink
(wsj.com)
The Commerce Department is examining changes to a $42.5 billion Biden-era program aimed at expanding internet access around the country with new rules that will make it easier for Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite-internet service, to tap in to rural broadband funding, said people familiar with the plans.
The Commerce Department is examining changes to a $42.5 billion Biden-era program aimed at expanding internet access around the country with new rules that will make it easier for Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite-internet service, to tap in to rural broadband funding, said people familiar with the plans.
New York Requires Internet Providers to Offer $15 Plans to Low-Income Residents
(highspeedinternet.com)
A New York law went into effect this month that requires big internet providers to offer $15 or $20 internet service to low-income households throughout the state.
A New York law went into effect this month that requires big internet providers to offer $15 or $20 internet service to low-income households throughout the state.
Turning Off All 8k EV Chargers at All Federal Government Buildings
(thedrive.com)
Electric vehicles are “not mission critical,” said the Trump administration, which has ordered all EV chargers located at federal buildings to be shut down nationwide and newly purchased EVs to be offloaded. This comes on the heels of pausing already-promised EV infrastructure funding.
Electric vehicles are “not mission critical,” said the Trump administration, which has ordered all EV chargers located at federal buildings to be shut down nationwide and newly purchased EVs to be offloaded. This comes on the heels of pausing already-promised EV infrastructure funding.
Countries spend huge sums on fossil fuel subsidies – why they're so hard to end
(theconversation.com)
Fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change, yet they are still heavily subsidized by governments around the world.
Fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change, yet they are still heavily subsidized by governments around the world.
How Europe is funding its solar boom
(dw.com)
The EU has doubled its solar capacity in the last three years. How have subsidies made this possible, what support is still available, and what still needs to happen?
The EU has doubled its solar capacity in the last three years. How have subsidies made this possible, what support is still available, and what still needs to happen?
NIH's drastic cut to indirect cost rates is a critical threat to US research
(statnews.com)
The National Institutes of Health has made a landmark decision that could irreparably damage the backbone of American scientific innovation: a dramatic reduction in the indirect cost rate for research grants.
The National Institutes of Health has made a landmark decision that could irreparably damage the backbone of American scientific innovation: a dramatic reduction in the indirect cost rate for research grants.
Japan plans to sell rice from emergency stockpiles to cut prices
(japantimes.co.jp)
Japan plans to release some of its rice stockpiles reserved for emergency use in response to record domestic prices for the grain.
Japan plans to release some of its rice stockpiles reserved for emergency use in response to record domestic prices for the grain.
Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artifical Intelligence
(whitehouse.gov)
To maintain this leadership, we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas. With the right Government policies, we can solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.This order revokes certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation, clearing a path for the United States to act decisively to retain global leadership in artificial intelligence.
To maintain this leadership, we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas. With the right Government policies, we can solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.This order revokes certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation, clearing a path for the United States to act decisively to retain global leadership in artificial intelligence.
Japan Offers Free Daycare to Boost Tokyo's Falling Birth Rate
(xatakaon.com)
Japan has been grappling with its demographic statistics with a sense of urgency, particularly regarding its declining birth rate. In 2023, the country recorded its eighth consecutive year of decreasing births, with a 5.1% drop that has pushed its fertility rate to historic lows.
Japan has been grappling with its demographic statistics with a sense of urgency, particularly regarding its declining birth rate. In 2023, the country recorded its eighth consecutive year of decreasing births, with a 5.1% drop that has pushed its fertility rate to historic lows.
Elon Musk complains Tesla is not getting subsidies for electric truck chargers
(electrek.co)
Elon Musk complains that Tesla is not getting subsidies for its electric truck chargers while calling for the end of electric vehicle subsidies in the US.
Elon Musk complains that Tesla is not getting subsidies for its electric truck chargers while calling for the end of electric vehicle subsidies in the US.
Norway on track to be first to go all-electric
(bbc.com)
Norway is the world leader when it comes to the take up of electric cars, which last year accounted for nine out of 10 new vehicles sold in the country. Can other nations learn from it?
Norway is the world leader when it comes to the take up of electric cars, which last year accounted for nine out of 10 new vehicles sold in the country. Can other nations learn from it?
Ministers mull allowing private firms to make profit from NHS data in AI push
(theguardian.com)
Ministers are considering allowing private companies to make profits from NHS data as part of a push to revolutionise the health service using artificial intelligence, government officials have indicated.
Ministers are considering allowing private companies to make profits from NHS data as part of a push to revolutionise the health service using artificial intelligence, government officials have indicated.
WH Executive Order Affecting Chips and AI Models
(whitehouse.gov)
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming central to both security and economic strength.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming central to both security and economic strength.
Australia moves to drop some cryptography by 2030 – before quantum carves it up
(theregister.com)
Australia's chief cyber security agency has decided local orgs should stop using the tech that forms the current cryptographic foundation of the internet by the year 2030 – years before other nations plan to do so – over fears that advances in quantum computing could render it insecure.
Australia's chief cyber security agency has decided local orgs should stop using the tech that forms the current cryptographic foundation of the internet by the year 2030 – years before other nations plan to do so – over fears that advances in quantum computing could render it insecure.
Facebook, Google and TikTok to fund Australian journalism under new tax plan
(abc.net.au)
Facebook, Google and TikTok will be forced to fund Australian journalism, even if they do not host it, under a federal government plan to impose a new tax aimed at encouraging the tech platforms to establish funding agreements with news organisations.
Facebook, Google and TikTok will be forced to fund Australian journalism, even if they do not host it, under a federal government plan to impose a new tax aimed at encouraging the tech platforms to establish funding agreements with news organisations.
Australia passes law banning under-16s from social media
(theguardian.com)
Australia’s parliament has passed a law that will aim to do what no other government has, and many parents have tried to: stop children from using social media.
Australia’s parliament has passed a law that will aim to do what no other government has, and many parents have tried to: stop children from using social media.
The delusions behind a Bitcoin strategic reserve
(ft.com)
In July, Cynthia Lummis, a US senator from Wyoming, introduced a bill to establish what she called a “strategic bitcoin reserve”, a programme instructing the Treasury and the Federal Reserve to buy a million bitcoins over the next five years to then hold them for at least 20 more years.
In July, Cynthia Lummis, a US senator from Wyoming, introduced a bill to establish what she called a “strategic bitcoin reserve”, a programme instructing the Treasury and the Federal Reserve to buy a million bitcoins over the next five years to then hold them for at least 20 more years.
Tesla excluded from EV buyer credits in California proposal
(fortune.com)
Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles would be shut out from consumer rebates under a proposal by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, pitting the prospective Democratic presidential hopeful against Republican power player Elon Musk.
Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles would be shut out from consumer rebates under a proposal by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, pitting the prospective Democratic presidential hopeful against Republican power player Elon Musk.
Tesla supports killing $7,500 EV tax credit – going directly against its mission
(electrek.co)
Tesla reportedly supports the Trump administration’s plan to kill the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles – something in direct contradiction to Tesla’s original mission to accelerate the entire industry’s transition to electric transport.
Tesla reportedly supports the Trump administration’s plan to kill the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles – something in direct contradiction to Tesla’s original mission to accelerate the entire industry’s transition to electric transport.
Intel financialized and lost leadership in semiconductor fabrication (2021)
(nakedcapitalism.com)
Our policy recommendation for the Biden administration is simple: As a condition for giving the U.S. semiconductor industry $50 billion in infrastructure assistance, put a ban on SIA members doing stock buybacks as open-market repurchases.
Our policy recommendation for the Biden administration is simple: As a condition for giving the U.S. semiconductor industry $50 billion in infrastructure assistance, put a ban on SIA members doing stock buybacks as open-market repurchases.