How did the beltway take Trump’s AI accord?

How did the beltway take Trump’s AI accord?

In a deep dive, The Hill’s Julia Shapero and Mallory Wilson examine how Trump’s “self-policing” AI accord is landing in Washington as concerns mount over the tech’s safety.

While Trump says industry officials can self-police , critics argue AI needs more oversight to keep development from getting out of hand — even as some described the accord as a step in the right direction.

One expert told us the administration’s concerns may be “ sincere, ” but the pledge is not a “solution” to preventing the potential risks of AI development.

Several of the biggest players in the industry signed the one-page document Tuesday, which included four “layers of controls and audits.”

It declares that AI companies should implement “robust” internal controls over models, empower an internal crew to crosscheck controls and mediate any issues, partner with external auditors to evaluate their controls and designate an independent committee of the board of directors to oversee reports from the operating teams.

Some lawmakers, including members of his own party, expressed skepticism over the accord.

Sen. Josh Halwey (R-Mo.) called it a “good step” but stopped short of saying lawmakers can take AI executives at their world.

Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter , we’re Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future:

Progressives unveil legislation cracking down on Flock cameras

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) unveiled legislation Friday to ban federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). The bill, titled the Ban Flock Act, would both prohibit federal agencies from ALPR usages and pause federal grant funding to state and local governments with ALPR contracts. It would also allow Americans to sue the federal government …

NASA’s dexterous humanoid robots built to assist humans on the moon

(NewsNation) — At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the 16-member Dexterous Robotics Team, is working on new machines to join crews on future lunar missions. These robots, however, are not just built for repetitive tasks. Their objective is to act as a hands-on support team for the crew while on the moon. “It’s really about the human elements — either working in environments designed for humans or working alongside humans. …

Amazon investing $1B in data center communities

Amazon plans to invest $1 billion in communities where it builds data centers over the next five years, the company announced Friday. The e-commerce and cloud computing giant will put the funds toward free community college and workforce training for residents, as well as energy efficiency upgrades. “We understand why there is apprehension in some communities where data centers are being built,” Amazon Web Services …

News we’ve flagged from t he intersection of tech and other topics:

Anthropic warns government attitudes may hurt customer ties (Reuters)

OpenAI hires top Trump AI official to work on national security ( The Information )

Hester Peirce , who became known as “crypto mom” at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is bidding the agency adieu.

The SEC commissioner, who departs Friday after eight years in the role, was a key advocate for the industry during a period that saw Washington’s views on digital assets shift wildly.

“Serving this great nation at the Securities and Exchange Commission has been the honor of my professional lifetime,” she wrote in her resignation letter, which she shared to social media last week.

“The United States is exceptional because its unifying thread is a commitment to liberty,” Peirce continued. “ A nation that elevates freedom of thought, expression, and action unlocks the great potential of its people to meet one another’s needs.”

“That ethos runs through the American securities markets, where innovates meet retail and institutional investors so that together they can build a vibrant economy.”

Her departure leaves the SEC with just two commissioners, Chair Paul Atkins and Mark Uyeda . Both are Republican appointees.

The agency typically has a five-member bipartisan commission but has dwindled down over the past two years.

Notably, the SEC issued a final rule Wednesday updating its quorum requirements. The new rule declares that one commissioner can constitute quorum if they are the only member who can participate.

Crypto Corner is a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington.

Branch out with other reads on The Hill:

(KTLA) – Once the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) merger is finalized, the resulting media empire will fall under a new name. On Friday morning, David Ellison took to social media to make the announcement. “What once was the peak is now just the beginning,” he wrote on social platform X. “Paramount and Warner Bros. shaped over a century of culture. By combining them, we aren’t rewriting history …

Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill:

You’re all caught up. See you next week!