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Today's AI News: Data Centers, Politics, Labor, Privacy, Ethics, and Energy

SoftBank to Plow $52 Billion Into French Data Centers

SoftBank has announced plans to invest $52 billion into building data centers in France, marking one of the largest technology infrastructure commitments in Europe. The investment highlights the growing global competition to attract AI and data center development. Read more: SoftBank to Plow $52 Billion Into French Data Centers - WSJ

'This Is a War': How Powerful A.I. Super PACs Are Dueling Over the Midterms

Major AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI have established Super PACs to influence the upcoming US midterm elections, marking a significant escalation in the role of artificial intelligence in political campaigning. Read more: 'This Is a War': How Powerful A.I. Super PACs Are Dueling Over the Midterms - The New York Times

Hollywood Studios and Union Find Common Ground on Use of AI

Hollywood studios and major entertainment unions have found common ground on the use of artificial intelligence, marking a significant development in ongoing labor negotiations that have concerned workers about job displacement and creative rights. Read more: Hollywood studios and union find common ground on use of artificial intelligence - France 24

NTSB Faces Challenges as AI Makes Cockpit Recordings Harder to Keep Private

The NTSB faces new challenges as AI transcription tools make it easier to extract and analyze cockpit voice recordings that the agency has traditionally kept confidential to protect sensitive accident investigations. Read more: The NTSB tries to keep cockpit audio recordings private. AI is making that harder - Iowa Public Radio

Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical Confronts Artificial Intelligence

Pope Leo XIV has issued his first encyclical, directly confronting the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, signaling the Vatican's intent to engage with emerging AI technologies within broader moral and humanistic frameworks. Read more: What must not be lost: Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical confronts artificial intelligence - The Orthodox Observer

Ohio Suspends Data Center Tax Break Amid AI Energy Cost Scrutiny

Ohio has suspended data center tax breaks as state officials scrutinize the growing energy demands of AI operations, with tech firms facing increased pressure to cover the costs of powering their facilities. Read more: Ohio suspends data center tax break as tech firms face pressure to pay the cost to power AI - CBS News

AI Tools Could Transform Higher Education by Automating Marking and Personalizing Feedback

AI in the Classroom Recent research highlighted by Phys.org suggests that AI systems can handle routine grading tasks and generate customized feedback for students. This automation could free instructors to focus on higher‑level teaching and mentorship. Potential Benefits * Efficiency – Automated marking reduces the time faculty spend on routine

Oracle Cuts 21,000 Jobs as AI Replaces Roles

Oracle, a major player in enterprise software, announced that it has eliminated 21,000 jobs in the last 12 months. The company attributes the layoffs to the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence tools that automate many routine tasks, allowing the firm to streamline operations and reduce staffing needs. The move

Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance Issues Warning on New AI Models and Cybersecurity Risks

Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance Issues Warning on New AI Models and Cybersecurity Risks The Five Eyes intelligence alliance—comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—has issued a formal warning that the rapid development of new artificial‑intelligence (AI) models could pose urgent cyber risks. The