When the Oligarchs are happy, we should get nervous. While AI and technology can provide a path to prosperity, then why does the Budget reconciliation contain language that strips the States of any power to regulate AI for 10 years? Congress talks about winning the race, and new AI Manhattan project. We’ll also cover Real ID maladministration in Michigan which could lead to election fraud, a look at inflation resulting from Biden administration, and SoS Benson pushing back against supplying MI House Republicans with subpoena requests.
AI Manhattan Project and the AI Race
four Leading Executives from the Tech Industry testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI. OpenAI is described as one of the world’s most advanced AI companies, known best for its ChatGPT product.
- Lisa Su, the chair and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). AMD develops high-performance processors, graphics chips, and AI accelerators that power artificial intelligence. She is also noted as a Texan.
- Michael Entratter, the CEO and co-founder of Coreweave. Coreweave is described as an AI hyperscaler and the world’s largest purpose-built AI cloud platform. Coreweave began seven years prior to the hearing, starting in a garage experimenting with graphics processing units (GPUs) for cryptocurrency mining before pivoting to support powerful AI applications.
- Brad Smith, the vice chair and president of Microsoft
I was listening to Altman and the other 3 panelists testimony yesterday, it was all about setting conditions for OpenAI to become the standard, the Senators said that toward the beginning. The states would be foolish to let this power slip away.
— Lord Mighty Humanzee (@HZardoz) May 12, 2025
I was thinking about this during…
Being Smart – Senator Cantwell
“Why do we need to move fast? We need to move fast because if we don’t we are looking at another Huawei another instance where the United States is behind…”.
“The faster the United States moves now i like this great uh Paul Romer quote which was about collaboration is the next phase of innovation if we don’t collaborate here if we throw down on politics instead of getting the policy right, we won’t move fast.”.
“Let’s allow these people to do what they do best and let’s make sure the United States has the right policies in place so that our open AI standard wins the day…”.
The issue is that OpenAI has a closed model: we are not allowed to see how it was trained. But the title OpenAI plays right into Open AI Standard.
Senator Cantwell also highlighted the need for specific policy actions to facilitate speed, such as:
- Setting standards. She asked the witnesses if they believed NIST setting standards was needed, “particularly if the United States wants to lead we will need industry standards… that will allow us to move much faster”.
- Being smart about data centers, sources of electricity, and building supply.
- Establishing export controls and trade agreements with allies to ensure US chips and technology dominate globally and prevent circumvention, which she stated is part of how “We are going to move fast”. She advocated for sophisticated democracies “setting the rules of the road and saying this is who you should buy from” to get leverage and move fast.
- Passing specific legislation, noting that seven bills from the committee got “stuck” previously, implying a failure to move fast on policy.
Contrasting Views On Energy – Will This Break The Vapid Use of Renewables, Or Will The Bro-ligarchs Get Preference
High Energy Consumption: Modern AI requires specialized computing capabilities that demand unprecedented computing power. This translates into substantial energy needs. Cororeweave, for example, operates data centers using 360 megawatts of power, with plans for a 10 gigawatt facility. The witness from Microsoft mentions going from zero to becoming the largest industrial user of electricity in southeastern Wisconsin, roughly 400 megawatts. It is stated that the industry will account for a significant, though not dominant, portion of the total additional electricity the country is going to need.
Strain on Energy Grid and Need for More Generation: This immense demand puts a strain on energy infrastructure and necessitates dramatically more power generation. Meeting this need requires accelerating infrastructure projects, which face challenges with permitting and regulatory processes. Senator Markey notes that the massive data centers required for AI development put stress on the grid. There are concerns about the sources of this additional energy; currently, 56% of US electricity comes from carbon, raising potential issues if new generation relies heavily on fossil fuels. Senator Markey points out the contrast between Trump’s stated plans regarding fossil fuels and the fact that the majority of new installed capacity last year was from wind, solar, and battery.
Increased Costs for Consumers: Increased electricity demand for data centers could potentially raise residential power bills. Senator Fetterman suggests this increase could be as much as 20%, which is a concern for families. Mr. Smith of Microsoft acknowledges this and states their goal is to manage their activity so it does not raise the price of electricity to the community. They propose solutions like investing in more generation and proposing rate increases on themselves to pay for grid improvements.
Water Consumption for Cooling: Data centers also require significant amounts of water, particularly for cooling. This can put a strain on water resources, especially in regions already facing droughts. Mr. Smith notes that water use is a huge priority, particularly where water is in short supply. He mentions using technologies like liquid cooling, which is a closed loop system that significantly reduces water consumption, and Microsoft’s commitment to water replenishment. Mr. Entrader also highlights new cooling technologies like liquid cooling for efficiency.
Potential Contribution to Climate Disaster: Senator Markey explicitly links the environmental impact of AI infrastructure, including energy and water demands, to the potential for contributing to a climate disaster. While acknowledging AI’s potential to help combat climate change (e.g., improving weather forecasts, predicting power supply/demand), he stresses that the negative consequences must also be considered.
Need for Study and Measurement: There is a call for the government to conduct comprehensive studies and convene stakeholders to better measure AI’s environmental impact. Altman agrees that studying and measuring is generally a good thing, while also suggesting the conversation about environmental impact has gotten “somewhat out of whack”.
Balancing Benefits and Risks: The discussion implicitly acknowledges a tension between AI’s potential positive environmental impacts (e.g., aiding scientific discovery, potentially helping with climate solutions) and its negative environmental footprint. Senator Klobuchar quotes David Brooks observing it is “literally unknowable whether this technology is leading us to heaven or hell”, a sentiment echoed by Senator Markey in the context of AI’s potential to find a cure for cancer versus contributing to a climate disaster
Devaluing Us Didn’t Stop During COVID
As I’ve said many times AI is ultimately a framework that shapes our thinking about our value. There is a cult like chant that AI is inevitable, it will replace all that this special about humans because all endeavor is just mere mimicry.
https://culturalcourage.substack.com/p/bro-ligarchs-on-ai-creativity-but
There is a sickness that we have in our society, and that is to remove all pain. It’s an extreme form of helicopter parenting that I detest because it has robbed generations of the right to fail and ultimately prevail in adverse conditions. When you hear the AI Theologists preach that we are on the cusp of transcending all the boredom and tyranny of the mediocrity that ensnares us, you see that the emptiness resulting from a life bereft from the risk of failure has created an even emotional need for fulfillment they claim AI will bestow. We are empty without overcoming risk.
There are two major themes that I see that disturb me because I perceive them as an assault on our desires and our drives for true actualization through achievement. I also see them as an assault on critical skills such as leadership and judgement as well. The first theme is the inevitable rise of AI capable of consciousness, a stepping stone to a superior form of intelligence. The other theme is the inevitable replacement of creative endeavors by AI because it will just be better for us to not struggle. The mantra is it’s only a matter of time that AI will be just as good as Geddy Lee or any of our favorite performers, creators and thinkers, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the genuine and cyber creations of the Bro-ligarch platforms. And if you call AI a tool you just fail to the superior nature of what’s coming.
From a professional perspective, it creates a near subservience to systems at the expense of productive cognition. It instills a passive copy and paste nature to productivity. And while many professions have proven to be bloated with individuals whose true skill is merely copying homework, we still need those professions as they are critical parts of our economy such as finance, legal practice, real estate development, health care and many others. AI is coming after to copy and paste intelligentsia.
The Greater Replacement isn't just an antihuman dream, hovering out there on the edge of possibility.
— Joe Allen (@JOEBOTxyz) May 13, 2025
No, this dream has practical uses right now. It's used as a nightmarish psychological weapon against workers.
"Anything you can do, AI can do better." pic.twitter.com/x4NbEDT2CS
FDA: Use it Immediately for Scientific Review
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/fda-deploy-artificial-intelligence-across-agencyThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly planning to accelerate the deployment and integration of artificial intelligence technologies across various agency functions. The goal is to leverage AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory processes, particularly in the scientific review of medical products.
AI is expected to be used to analyze vast amounts of data from clinical trials, post-market surveillance, and manufacturing quality control. This could potentially speed up review times, improve the detection of safety signals, and personalize regulatory approaches.
The move indicates a significant step by a major regulatory body to embrace AI as a tool for modernizing its operations. It also necessitates developing appropriate frameworks and guidelines for validating and overseeing the use of AI in critical health and safety decisions.
New Battery Tech: Salt
https://slingshot.news/heres-how-donald-trump-can-break-chinas-battery-monopoly/The article discusses strategies former President Trump could employ to challenge China’s dominant position in the global battery market. It suggests that supporting alternative battery technologies, beyond traditional lithium-ion where China leads, is key to breaking this monopoly.
One potential approach mentioned is fostering domestic production and innovation in emerging battery chemistries, such as sodium-ion or solid-state batteries, which could reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. The piece advocates for government policy to incentivize U.S.-based battery manufacturing and research.
Breaking China’s monopoly is framed as both an economic and national security imperative. The article argues that control over battery technology is crucial for the future of industries like electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
Pining For Renewables – Maybe Fire Your Experts
In a spate of nonsense, the Green Energy Cult is attempting to fear monger by claiming renewable energy is cheaper because “you don’t have to buy fuel” while ignoring the billions in subsidies the industry needs.
“Renewable energy can often be less expensive than alternatives because there’s no fuel to purchase. Some of the purchasing agreements we have signed historically were ‘no brainers’ because they reduced our power costs,” said Kevin Miller, vice-president of Global Data Centers at Amazon Web Services.
Simon Ninan, senior vice-president at Hitachi Vantara, which builds equipment and infrastructure for data centers, said the Trump administration’s “antagonistic approach” towards renewable energy could make it “impossible to satisfy the data growth that’s happening.”
“Strategically, the US could risk undermining its current pole position in the global AI race… China, on the other hand, has taken a proactive approach towards grid modernization and efficient power distribution.”
Energy shortages could “result in cancellation or delays in data center build-outs or infrastructure upgrades,” he said.
Darth Nessel’s Lawsuits Are Not Found in Reality
Dana Darth Nessel recently joined 17 other Attorney Generals in a lawsuit aimed at restoring Biden’s energy policies, rescinding Trumps action at the Dept of Energy that canceled wind and solar funding.
“The State of Michigan’s Public Act 235 establishes a renewable energy standard of 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2035,” explained Nessel’s May 6 news release. “While 7% of Michigan’s electricity currently comes from wind, utility companies have submitted plans to the Michigan Public Service Commission to supply about 25% of the state’s electricity consumption from wind generation by 2035.”
A December 2023 Long-Term Reliability Assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation predicts a sad future for this plot.
NERC placed the Midcontinent Independent System Operator grid at “high risk” of power shortfalls even during “normal peak conditions.” Two big reasons for NERC’s concern look very Spanish: the addition of too much non-dispatchable wind and solar onto the MISO grid and the reduction of reliable and dispatchable thermal plants, notably the retirement of coal-fired power stations.
If Nessel was aware of NERC’s high risk warning for Michigan, then she didn’t mention it in her news release. Also unmentioned was which way the wind has been blowing.
In 2022, wind power provided 9,151 gigawatt hours (GWh) of power for Michigan, or 7.8% of the state’s electricity. And in 2024, wind kicked out 9,764 GWh, also good for 7.8% (because total electricity use had increased.)
However, Nessel’s May 2025 news release claims wind was providing a mere “7% of Michigan’s electricity”?
Because in 2023, with presumably more wind turbines spinning than in 2022, wind energy provided only 8,292 GWh of electricity–a decline of 9.4% relative to 2022. Making that sharp decline even worse, it occurred during a year when Michigan electricity use from all sources jumped upward by 2.7% .
MORE NEWS: Study: Duggan’s Detroit 178th out of 182 cities for best places to start a career
The fickle wind provided a lot less power just when Michigan needed more. This was a nationwide problem. Commenting on wind power in 2023, energy journalist Robert Bryce wrote that “the Energy Information Administration published a report showing that U.S. wind energy production declined by 2.1% last year.”
“Even more shocking,” reported Bryce, “that decline occurred even though the wind sector added 6.2 GW of new capacity!”
“Imagine if the U.S. built 6.2 GW new capacity in nuclear power plants and after starting them up, overall U.S. electricity generation went down,” noted climate scientist Roger Pielke, Jr. “That’d be a problem, right?”
Rehabbing Solar Panels
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has decided not to lease state-owned land located near a proposed large-scale solar energy project near Gaylord. This decision stems from concerns about the potential environmental impact and disruption to the natural landscape.
Long-term, the DNR has pledged to lease no more than 4,000 of the state’s 4.6 million acres of public land for renewable energy. That pales in comparison to the 350,000 acres of state land currently leased for oil and gas wells. Additional land is leased or contracted out for powerlines and pipelines, mining, logging and other industrial uses.
Solar proponents expressed disappointment with the intense public scrutiny the Gaylord proposal faced, saying they rarely see so much outcry about other industrial activity on public land.
“Our fossil fuel operators have left innumerable scars all over our state and there doesn’t seem to be the same level of accountability and stringency to protect our natural resources when it comes to fossil fuels,” said state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor.
Citing misinformation that surrounded the Gaylord area proposal — including false claims that the DNR was planning to sell rather than lease the land or that solar panels would cover a local hiking and skiing trail — Irwin added that “fossil fuel interests and the politicians they control know that they have to lie about solar in order to maintain their market share.”
But opponents of solar on public land said drill rigs and clearcuts don’t hinder public access and wildlife movement the way that hundreds of acres of solar panels would. Still others simply don’t like the look of solar panels or don’t believe they can generate meaningful power in the snowy north (research says otherwise).
Don’t Worry The Government Says Snow Is Actually Good For Solar Panels
https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/let-it-snow-how-solar-panels-can-thrive-winter-weather
With or without frames, though, it’s important to note that snow can actually help clean a PV module as it melts away. It’s similar to what happens to a car’s windshield: if the snow is allowed to melt off, the windshield is left without a speck of debris. That’s because any dirt on the glass will bond with the snow, washing it away when the sun melts it off. The anti-soiling properties of snow inherently make solar panels cleaner and able to reach higher efficiencies.
Pilfering Our Way To AGI
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/09/soundcloud-changes-policies-to-allow-ai-training-on-user-content/Music streaming platform SoundCloud has updated its terms of service to explicitly permit the use of user-uploaded content for training artificial intelligence models. This policy change allows AI developers, potentially including SoundCloud itself or partners, to analyze and learn from the vast library of audio available on the platform.
The move is aimed at leveraging the platform’s extensive dataset to potentially develop new AI tools related to music creation, recommendation, or analysis. However, it raises questions and concerns among artists and creators about the use of their original work for AI training without specific consent or compensation.
This policy adjustment reflects a broader trend across digital platforms where companies are adapting terms to capitalize on user data for AI development. It highlights the ongoing tension between data utilization for AI advancement and creators’ rights and privacy.
Too Dumb To Brew
AI Guy at Microsoft thinks that AI should brew the perfect coffee for you. So for $500 you can get a coffee machine that downloads an AI perfected set of instructions.
So Dixon was in the right place when Fellow released its Aiden brewer in the fall of 2024. He was intrigued by Fellow’s Drops program, which ships buyers boutique beans with a matching Aiden brew profile, curated and cupped by experts. Dixon enjoyed some Drops but also grew wary of the pricing (such as $24 for an 8.8-ounce bag, plus $5 shipping). And he wanted to try out local and independent roasters’ wares without having to dial in every variation of temperature and timing (literally, as the only way to program an Aiden before an update to its companion app was by turning a dial).
Dixon was of two minds about it. “People aren’t great at interpreting a bunch of numbers and thinking, ‘Ah, this is going to be a good coffee brew,’” he said. An AI prompt like his, Dixon said, “democratizes knowledge, which is really powerful.” Especially if, for example, “all of a sudden, prices start going up, beans get expensive to buy, and it’s harder to enjoy the learning process.”
Grow Population by … Raising Taxes. Like Building New Schools
https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/news/livonia-to-pitch-150m-bond-proposal-on-aug-5
The city of Livonia, Michigan, is proposing a $150 million bond issue that will be put before voters in August. The bond is intended to fund significant upgrades and renovations across the Livonia Public Schools district. The problem is that there has been a population decline.
“Last night the City Council voted unanimously to take the bold, innovative step to advance our community’s dream,” Brosnan said in an April 29 social media post. “The Livonia Built Bond proposal will create safer working environments for our police officers and firefighters while building a new state-of-the-art library for our children and a central gathering space and connective bikeways and walkways. This is an investment in our future — not just in buildings, but belonging. … Check out the future of our city at https://livoniabuilt.org/. Then be sure to vote YES! for the bond proposal on August 5.”
If approved, the bond would be paid for through an increase in property taxes for residents within the school district. Supporters argue the investment is necessary to improve aging school facilities, enhance security, and update technology to benefit students.
Critics often question the size of such bond requests and the resulting tax burden on property owners. The debate centers on the balance between investing in public education infrastructure and the financial impact on taxpayers.
Ballot Initiative
https://www.pureintegritymichiganelections.org/so/e0POrZPHZ?languageTag=en
Ballot initiative petition in Michigan focused on election integrity, specifically addressing the issue of signature verification on absentee ballots. The initiative aims to propose changes to state law regarding how signatures are matched and verified during the election process.
Proponents of the initiative argue that current signature verification methods are insufficient and that stricter standards are needed to ensure the security and integrity of absentee voting. They are collecting signatures to get the proposal placed on a future ballot.
Opponents typically argue that current processes are robust and that overly strict signature matching could disenfranchise legitimate voters whose signatures may vary. The debate reflects broader national tensions over election security protocols.
Failure of REAL ID: Benson Setting Up For Next Election?
Audit reveals that in 50% of samples of REAL ID applications DO NOT RETAIN THE UNDERLYING DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED
https://audgen.michigan.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/r231033324-91476.pdf
An audit report from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General reviewed the Secretary of State’s compliance with REAL ID requirements. The audit identified instances where documentation and processes related to issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards did not fully meet federal standards.
Findings included issues with verifying the lawful status of applicants and retaining necessary documentation. The report made recommendations for the Department of State to improve its procedures to ensure full compliance with federal REAL ID regulations.
While the audit highlighted areas for improvement in the REAL ID process, the report itself is a standard government audit and does not directly discuss the Secretary of State’s political actions or election strategies, despite the title’s framing. It focuses on operational compliance with federal law.
SOS! Benson’s Real ID Rollout Is a Disaster
— Michigan Enjoyer (@mich_enjoyer) May 7, 2025
Her branches are mishandling documents, and the feds are threatening a full-blown audit
By Charlie LeDuff (@Charlieleduff)
Jocelyn Benson, our ambitious limousine liberal masquerading as Michigan’s Secretary of State, has once again… pic.twitter.com/b2ljvA0aZL
Making a Fixable Situation a Disaster – Keeping ERIC Despite Rates of Error
A federal appeals court has affirmed the legality of Michigan’s procedures for removing deceased individuals from the state’s voter registration lists. The ruling upholds the current process used by election officials to maintain accurate voter rolls.
The lawsuit challenged the state’s methods for identifying and removing voters who have died. The court’s decision found that Michigan’s system, which relies on data from state and federal sources, meets legal requirements for voter list maintenance.
While the article touches on the importance of accurate voter rolls, its primary focus is the court’s decision validating the state’s established procedures for handling deceased voters. It does not delve into specific error rates of the ERIC system, although ERIC is a tool used by some states for list maintenance.
Benson: Complying with Subpoenas Violates Law
https://michiganadvance.com/2025/05/08/michigan-department-of-state-says-subpoenas-for-election-training-materials-violate-the-law/The Michigan Department of State has asserted that complying with legislative subpoenas seeking specific election training materials would violate existing state law. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office argues that certain requested documents contain sensitive or legally protected information.
The subpoenas were issued by a legislative committee seeking materials related to election administration and training provided to local clerks. The Department contends that releasing these specific materials could compromise election security or disclose proprietary information.
This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between legislative oversight seeking transparency in election processes and the Department of State’s responsibilities for security and compliance with other legal restrictions regarding information disclosure. The matter may lead to further legal conflict over the scope of legislative subpoena power.
A Tepid Response to Illegals Voting
https://michiganadvance.com/2025/05/12/michigan-democrats-election-proposals-sidestep-the-noncitizen-voting-issue-for-now/Proposed election reform legislation advanced by Michigan Democrats reportedly does not include provisions specifically addressing concerns about non-citizens voting. While the package includes various updates to election law, it avoids tackling the issue of how to explicitly prevent or penalize non-citizen voting.
Critics argue this omission is a failure to address a significant concern raised by election integrity advocates. They contend that state law should be clarified or strengthened to ensure only eligible citizens cast ballots.
Democrats supporting the package are focused on other reforms like expanding early voting options and simplifying registration processes. The decision to sidestep the non-citizen voting issue, at least for now, indicates it remains a politically contentious topic without consensus for inclusion in current reform efforts.