New DC-Focused Newsletter
We are launching a new email newsletter focused on the policy developments in DC. It will be more frequent and focused than Now and Next and will feature our reactions to energy and tech developments in the White House and Congress. For example, if you want our takes on the recent executive orders coming from the White House, that’s the place to find them. They’ll always be brief and will pack a punch! You can sign up here to give it a try.
The Grid
When people ask me for resources from the Abundance Institute, most of the time I will point them to our excellent YouTube channel. There you will find our latest video and my second time talking about energy policy issues, specifically about the grid. (Although not The Grid from that new Tron movie). Creative solutions for delivering electricity in America are totally possible and it’s exciting to learn about the many solutions out there. Micro-grids and what they enable are like the physical versions of decentralized digital technologies.
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New Paper on AI and Labor
The discussion about AI and jobs goes way, way back. Lots has been written on the topic yet solutions, especially for state policymakers, can be difficult to come by. This is why I was excited for Caden Rosenbaum’s latest policy brief at the Libertas Institute: Policy Solutions to Future-proof Workforces Against AI Displacement. Like you, I’ve read a lot on this topic and it can often feel like a tired topic. Caden offers up some unique analysis and some creative solutions. Even if you also feel exhausted by this issue, do not sleep on this paper.
Age Verification and the Threat to Anonymity
One of our Abundance Fellows, James Ostrowski, wrote an article in Pirate Wires that brings a unique angle to the age verification debate in the states and federal level. He (correctly) argues that user verification efforts will kill anonymity and therefore chill speech. Anonymity, or at least the ability to be anonymous, does bring its own set of problems but the world where anonymity becomes much harder or ceases to exist will result in even worse outcomes. As James says well in his concluding line, “The risk we run is that the internet will become safe for those with nothing to fear — but not for those with something to say.”
In The News
Neil Chilson advised the Federal Trade Commission on tech policy during Trump’s first administration; he told SFGATE that some bundle packages barred by pro-competition net neutrality laws are very popular with consumers. Overall, though, he views net neutrality as an “academic problem,” and said that though California may be worse off than the rest of the country, “the practical effect for consumers [nationwide] is more or less non-existent.” —SFGATE
I spoke with The National on Meta’s move towards community notes:
These are all solid moves by Meta and the evidence backs it up,” said Taylor Barkley, director of public policy for the Abundance Institute. “During our year of tracking AI-generated election material, it was clear that a community-notes system worked well at moderating content. “As Zuck said, it won’t be perfect but adapting new systems to more speech is the right move.
Neil also spoke with The National on Meta’s shift:
Neil Chilson, former chief technologist for the Federal Trade Commission during the first Trump administration and currently head of artificial intelligence policy at the Abundance Institute, a non-profit organisation that supports emerging technologies, praised the announcement.
“Meta’s changes are a win for online communication and society,” he said. “Progress depends on open debate and the free exchange of ideas. Social media is transformative, but its potential is lost when platforms stifle discussion. By empowering users, Meta is improving the free speech ecosystem online.”
Following the House AI Task Force Report, Neil spoke to Tech Policy Press
Overall, the Report provides an excellent foundation for discussions about Congress’s proper role in ensuring AI innovation delivers the abundance it promises. Much remains to be built on that foundation, however — especially how to prevent or cut through the growing thicket of state laws that are overwhelmingly contrary to the Task Force’s measured, humble, and tech-savvy approach.
And, Neil joined the R Street podcast to discuss Trump 2.0 and AI policy.
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