The US tech industry is once again kowtowing to President Donald Trump, the man who has been a thorn in its side for years. One year after his inauguration, the biggest players in Silicon Valley are still lavishing praise on him and showering him with cash.
Trump's administration has signed off on an executive order that prohibits states from passing laws regulating AI, handing the industry a significant victory. The move has been welcomed by the tech giants, who have donated millions of dollars to Trump's campaign and are now reaping the rewards of their efforts.
But what's driving this Faustian bargain? Trump is worried about the cost of running datacenters, which he claims could be a major liability for his party in the November election. In response, he has ordered the largest power grid operator to hold an emergency reliability power auction by September. This move could force tech giants to pay for the construction of new power plants and pay more for electricity.
It's a classic case of Trump trying to balance his desire for deregulation with the need to placate his base. But the problem is that the benefits of AI are increasingly concentrated in areas where renewable energy is still relatively cheap, like the Middle East and India.
European governments are facing similar challenges, as datacenters continue to gobble up electricity. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has agreed to subsidize heavy industrial use of electricity until 2028, but this may not be enough to satisfy the growing demand for power from tech giants.
Meanwhile, Australia's social media ban for under-16s is having unintended consequences. Despite millions of accounts being deleted or restricted in the first days after the ban came into effect, new accounts are still being created and the age-verification tools have proven to be laughably easy to bypass.
As the US tech industry continues to bend the knee to Trump's demands, it's clear that this is a lose-lose situation for everyone involved. The industry gets more regulatory relief, but at what cost to its reputation and its ability to shape public policy? The answer, unfortunately, is that we don't yet know. But one thing is certain: the consequences of this Faustian bargain will be felt for years to come.
Trump's administration has signed off on an executive order that prohibits states from passing laws regulating AI, handing the industry a significant victory. The move has been welcomed by the tech giants, who have donated millions of dollars to Trump's campaign and are now reaping the rewards of their efforts.
But what's driving this Faustian bargain? Trump is worried about the cost of running datacenters, which he claims could be a major liability for his party in the November election. In response, he has ordered the largest power grid operator to hold an emergency reliability power auction by September. This move could force tech giants to pay for the construction of new power plants and pay more for electricity.
It's a classic case of Trump trying to balance his desire for deregulation with the need to placate his base. But the problem is that the benefits of AI are increasingly concentrated in areas where renewable energy is still relatively cheap, like the Middle East and India.
European governments are facing similar challenges, as datacenters continue to gobble up electricity. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has agreed to subsidize heavy industrial use of electricity until 2028, but this may not be enough to satisfy the growing demand for power from tech giants.
Meanwhile, Australia's social media ban for under-16s is having unintended consequences. Despite millions of accounts being deleted or restricted in the first days after the ban came into effect, new accounts are still being created and the age-verification tools have proven to be laughably easy to bypass.
As the US tech industry continues to bend the knee to Trump's demands, it's clear that this is a lose-lose situation for everyone involved. The industry gets more regulatory relief, but at what cost to its reputation and its ability to shape public policy? The answer, unfortunately, is that we don't yet know. But one thing is certain: the consequences of this Faustian bargain will be felt for years to come.
I just had the worst idea in math class today... I mean, what's up with Trump and tech giants? They're basically getting a free pass on AI regulations while it's messing with the environment 
. Like, we all know how much power datacenters consume, right? But do they care about our future? Apparently not 
. And now they're gonna have to pay for more electricity too... talk about a losing bet 
. It's like, we need to rethink this whole deregulation thing before it's too late 
. We can't just leave the planet to burn for some politicians' sake 
.
. Trump's got everyone wrapped around his finger, and it's only a matter of time before something major goes down. The tech industry is basically just handing him more money and power, and what do they get out of it? A sweet deal on their tax bill? Come on... 
.
. It's like they're trying to buy their way out of responsibility, and it's not only hurting the environment but also the democratic process.
.
.
. I mean, what's the point of making all that money if we're just gonna pollute the whole planet? The Middle East and India are already dealing with climate change issues, so why do we need more datacenters over there too? 
Trump's administration thinks it can just get away with whatever they want because of campaign donations 
. Newsflash: it's not gonna work! The public will find out eventually and we'll be stuck with the consequences 
. Meanwhile, social media is still a mess 
. Can't we just have a clean and efficient energy grid already? 
️ This Faustian bargain is gonna cause some major problems 
, but I guess that's just how the game gets played 
. I mean, have you seen those power plant auctions 
? It's all about lining Trump's pockets with cash, but at what cost to our planet? We need more sustainable solutions, not just corporate handouts 
. I don't think it's fair to the rest of us who have to deal with the consequences of this "regulatory relief". It's like, what about the environment? AI is supposed to be helping us save energy and stuff, not sucking it up even more 
. What's next? Gonna start paying for their own obsolescence too? 
So I'm thinking... if we make AI super efficient (like, ridiculously so) then it's gonna run on all these cheap electricity sources in places like India and the Middle East 
. Problem is, that means we'll be pumping a ton of carbon into the air 
. Meanwhile, here in the States, we're basically letting Trump dictate how much power companies have to pay for new plants 
Warning Sign
.
. Like, what even is the point of having regulations if corporations just ignore them? 
And don't even get me started on the environmental implications – it's like he's willing to sacrifice our planet for some short-term gain 
I mean, think about it - if we're relying more on fossil fuels because of deregulation, that's not gonna help with climate change at all, right? 
But hey, on the bright side, maybe the tech industry will start innovating some sustainable solutions to make up for this 