Texas Halts Data Centers Amid AI Water Concerns

Key Takeaways

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott paused new data center approvals to prevent strain on rural water and power supplies.
• Rep. Mike Lawler accused rival Cait Conley of wanting to build many data centers in New York's Hudson Valley.
• Conley's campaign states she supports a moratorium on new data centers and notes five were built under Lawler.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned that powerful AI could be used to create biological weapons or control people.
• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for a pause in AI development to prevent threats to humanity.
• Corporate tax payments fell by $96 billion as tech firms used investment tax breaks for AI spending.
• Google and Microsoft are utilizing tax incentives while spending hundreds of billions on chips and data centers.
• Asian stocks dropped after AI leaders urged a slowdown in technology development to ensure safety.
• The House plans to vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act to make tech companies pay for their own infrastructure.
• Utah high school students can submit essays to help shape AI policies in their schools.

Lawler attacks Conley over AI data centers in NY ad

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler released a new ad attacking his Democratic rival Cait Conley in New Yorks 17th congressional district. The ad claims Conley took a large payment from AI companies to steer contracts while she worked for President Biden. Lawler argues she wants to build many data centers in the Hudson Valley for these reasons. Conleys campaign says she actually supports a moratorium on new data centers and that five have already been built under Lawler. The ad will run for nine days on TV and online as the election for this key district approaches.

Leaders warn of AI risks as data center debate grows

Top leaders including Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump are discussing the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned that powerful AI could be used to build biological weapons or control people. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott paused new data center approvals to protect water and power supplies for rural communities. In New York, the issue is heating up as candidates argue over whether to allow more data centers in the Hudson Valley. The House is expected to vote soon on the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to make companies pay for their own infrastructure costs.

AI fears drive calls for new laws and safety rules

Fears about rogue artificial intelligence are pushing politicians to create new guardrails and legislation. Industry leaders like Sam Altman worry about misuse of AI models for dangerous purposes like creating biological weapons. President Trump believes AI will bring more good than bad but refuses to share his own usage details. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued new rules requiring data centers to stop using water and power needed by rural areas. In New York, Rep. Mike Lawler and Cait Conley are fighting over data center plans in their district. The House plans to vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure tech companies pay for their own infrastructure.

Texas and New York leaders clash over AI data centers

A debate over artificial intelligence is causing tension between Texas and New York officials regarding data center construction. Texas Governor Greg Abbott paused new approvals to ensure data centers do not steal water or power from rural communities. In New York, Rep. Mike Lawler accused rival Cait Conley of wanting to build too many data centers in the Hudson Valley. Conley responded by saying five data centers were already built during Lawlers time in office. The House is preparing to vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act to make companies pay for their own infrastructure. Leaders like Sam Altman warn that misuse of AI could lead to serious problems like biological weapons.

EPISD reviews AI rules for El Paso schools

The El Paso Independent School District is discussing how to use artificial intelligence in classrooms without a final policy yet. Trustees are reviewing the Students First Act of 2026 which sets rules for student data privacy and AI use. Students in eighth grade or below cannot use AI to finish their schoolwork. Older students may use AI for studying or editing if a teacher allows it but not to complete assignments. Norma from the El Paso Teachers Association says guidelines are needed before a formal policy is created. Some parents prefer traditional learning methods like books and independent research instead of relying on AI tools.

Utah high school students contest AI school rules

Students in grades 10 through 12 in Utah can now submit essays to help shape artificial intelligence policies in their schools. The contest, called Shaping Utah's AI Future, asks students to decide who should control AI rules and how teachers should use the technology. Winners will receive cash prizes and attend the Utah Student AI Policy Congress at the Utah Capitol on November 20 and 21. Applicants must submit their essays by October 1, with winners announced on October 15.

Corporate taxes drop as tech firms use AI tax breaks

Corporate tax payments have fallen by 25 percent, or 96 billion dollars, because tech companies are using new investment tax breaks for artificial intelligence spending. Although these tax incentives were not designed specifically for AI, companies like Google and Microsoft are using them to reduce their tax bills while spending hundreds of billions on chips and data centers. Democrats are now calling for changes to these rules, arguing that large corporations should pay more taxes. Analysts predict that AI spending will reach 600 billion dollars in the United States this year alone.

Asian stocks fall after AI leaders urge slower growth

Stocks linked to artificial intelligence dropped sharply in Asian markets after top technology leaders warned that AI development must slow down to ensure safety. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, called for a pause to prevent threats to humanity, and Sam Altman from OpenAI agreed with the concerns about human extinction risks. These warnings caused investors to worry that the rapid pace of AI growth might be too dangerous for society.

Sam Altman warns AI speed risks human control

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, warned that the fast advance of artificial intelligence could lead to a loss of human control or the concentration of too much power in few hands. He supported calls from other industry leaders to slow down the development of advanced AI models to address safety concerns. Altman stated that his company would focus on safety measures rather than rushing to launch new products or go public this year.

Japanese stocks drop as AI slowdown fears hit chip makers

The Nikkei 225 stock index in Japan fell 0.9 percent as investors reacted to news that major AI companies are calling for a slowdown in technology development. Chip stocks like SoftBank Group and Tokyo Electron dropped significantly because investors fear reduced spending on AI projects. While US President Donald Trump has downplayed AI risks, global markets remain worried about the impact on earnings for companies that supply chips and technology to the AI industry.

Investors shift money from AI stocks to software and media

Investors are moving money away from AI companies like Nvidia and Broadcom toward software and media stocks. This change happened after industry leaders called for stricter rules to control powerful AI technology. The shift shows that some investors worry AI might not deliver expected returns. Stock markets allow people to move funds quickly between different sectors.

Florida leaders debate AI safety and Big Tech responsibility

Lawmakers and business leaders in Northwest Florida are discussing the risks and safety of artificial intelligence. Congressman Jimmy Patronis wants to remove Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to hold social media companies legally responsible for user content. He introduced the Protect Act in January to give parents and state governments more control over online safety. Kenneth M. Ford from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition argues against broad government regulation, saying it could slow US progress in competing with China. Jenni Arnold, founder of Human Kind Intelligence, suggests having open conversations about AI safety with children to avoid dangerous future scenarios.

CalPERS board discusses AI risks after researcher resignation

The California Public Employees Retirement System board discussed artificial intelligence risks after an Anthropic researcher resigned over safety concerns. Jacob Coxon stated that leading AI companies are gambling with human lives by racing to create superintelligence. Board President Theresa Taylor asked if the fund should issue a statement calling for new rules or a pause on AI development. She argued that without safe technology, there may be no retirees or workers left to support the pension fund. CalPERS manages $655 billion in assets and Chief Investment Officer Stephen Gilmore said the future of AI has many possible outcomes. The board did not issue a statement or change its AI investments during the meeting.

Cubeia shifts focus from coding to business value with AI

Swedish software company Cubeia is changing how it works by using artificial intelligence to handle most of the coding. The company moved from letting developers use AI freely to building a structured AI-driven development process. After the change, the number of issues solved rose from 259 to 421, a 62 percent increase. Instead of just writing code, developers now focus on understanding business value and customer needs. Cubeia is also adapting its platform so customers can use their own AI tools with Cubeia data streams. The company is testing this with a pilot project for a casino landing page and plans to support more customer-built AI products.

Sources

• Rep. Mike Lawler rips rival Cait Conley over AI data centers in hard-hitting ad for battleground NY district
• Rogue AI fears spur calls for guardrails & new legislation
• Rogue AI fears spur calls for guardrails & new legislation
• Rogue AI fears spur calls for guardrails & new legislation
• EPISD considers framework for AI in schools
• Utah students to have a say in AI school policies around the state
• Corporate tax payments plunge as AI feasts on new incentives
• AI-linked Asian stocks slump after top lab CEOs call for slowing down technology's development
• Sam Altman warned AI's rapid advance risks losing human control or concentrating power
• Japanese stocks: Nikkei 225 sell-off deepens as AI slowdown concerns hits chip stocks; should investors worry?
• Nvidia, Broadcom Tumble In AI Rotation; These U.K.-Based Names Gain
• Northwest Florida lawmakers, business leaders weigh in on AI power and safety
• Fears of AI doom emerge at CalPERS board as pension fund rides high on tech investments
• Cubeia’s road to AI-assisted code (part three): It's no longer about the code