🕵️♂️Data Gathering by Any Means
Plus: Will all Safety Measure Fail?
“Data is the new oil,” the quote says. But in reality, it may be far more valuable than oil, because oil is still measured in fiat currencies whose value constantly fluctuates and declines over time. I’d argue that data is the new currency. It can be bought and sold in any currency, used to train AI models, reveal insights about its source, and generate entirely new layers of data and metadata.
Data is like a seed that continually creates new life. It gives greater meaning to events, helps uncover hidden patterns, and even creates new events of its own. And we are only scratching the surface of how data can be collected, where it can come from, and how it can be used or abused. Government agencies such as ICE and other immigration authorities increasingly rely on large contracts with private technology companies to track individuals through facial recognition, behavioral analysis, the vast network of cameras surrounding us, satellites overhead, and the enormous amount of information we willingly share on social media and digital platforms.
Now, researchers are developing electronics that can be printed onto living tissue, skin, hair, and other biological surfaces, creating the possibility of tracking systems that are even more pervasive than today’s wearables. The world of sports is also being transformed by the unprecedented volume of granular data that can now be collected, structured, and analyzed. In the long run, the sheer scale of this information may become impossible for humans to fully comprehend; only computers will be able to process it. And those systems, potentially controlled by a small number of powerful organizations, could increasingly shape decisions that people follow without question. But what happens if those systems are compromised? And how will all of this be powered? That’s exactly what we explore today. Stay curious.
📰 AI News and Trends
Will all Safety Measure Fail?
Data Gathering by Any Means
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The struggle to Power Data Centers
📚 Learning Corner - Privacy and Civil Liberties
📰 AI News and Trends
Perplexity Brings AI-Powered Research, Contract Review, and Legal Workflows Into a Single Platform for Lawyers.
OpenAI Enters the Chip Wars with a the New Broadcom-Powered Chip ‘Jalapeño’ Accelerator which Promises Faster, Cheaper, and More energy Efficient AI Inference.
Amazon vs. Perplexity is the Legal Fight That Could Redefine How AI Agents Use the Internet.
Electronics can now be printed onto living tissues.
Apple Hikes Prices on Almost Everything Except iPhones
Oracle Reports AI Adoption Contributes to 21,000 Job Cuts
Anthropic accuses Chinese rival Alibaba of illicitly extracting AI capabilities
Will all Safety Measure Fail?
A growing number of leading AI researchers in both the U.S. and China are warning that the race to build more powerful AI systems is moving too fast. At a recent AI conference in Beijing, experts from both countries highlighted concerns that advanced AI agents could accelerate cyberattacks, create new security vulnerabilities, and potentially trigger a “Chernobyl moment” for artificial intelligence if safety measures fail. While Washington continues restricting China’s access to advanced AI technology, researchers argue that AI risks are global and require international cooperation, similar to past nuclear safety efforts. The debate is becoming even more urgent as open-source AI models from companies like Alibaba, Moonshot, and Nvidia grow increasingly capable, raising concerns that future models could be exploited for hacking, cyber warfare, or other malicious uses. Some Chinese AI firms are reportedly reconsidering open-source releases altogether as security risks begin to outweigh the benefits of openness.
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Data Gathering by Any Means
A new report reveals that spending on AI-powered immigration surveillance technology has surged to record levels under the Trump administration, with ICE and Customs and Border Protection awarding more than $513 million in contracts in 2026, up from $310 million in 2025 and less than $50 million a decade ago.
The funding is fueling a rapidly expanding arsenal of tools from companies like Palantir and Anduril, including facial recognition systems, social media monitoring, data brokers, phone-hacking tools, AI-powered drones, biometric tracking, and autonomous border surveillance towers. Researchers warn that immigration agencies are not only purchasing these technologies but actively funding their development, raising concerns about privacy, civil liberties, government oversight, and the growing influence of major tech firms in shaping the future of domestic surveillance.
📚 Learning Corner
Privacy and Civil Liberties
The counterbalance to surveillance.
Key concepts: Fourth Amendment protections, Digital rights, Consent, Data ownership, Encryption, Anonymity.
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The struggle to Power Data Centers
Tesla, Sunrun, and Renew Home have unveiled plans to create a 16.8-gigawatt virtual power plant by linking hundreds of thousands of home batteries, smart thermostats, and connected devices across the U.S.
The initiative is designed to help meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of AI data centers without building new power plants or transmission infrastructure. The companies already have 300 megawatts ready for deployment in Virginia’s “Data Center Alley” and expect capacity to expand significantly over the coming years. As AI-driven data center power demand is projected to rise from 41 GW in 2026 to 66 GW in 2027, the partnership aims to turn idle residential energy assets into a flexible grid resource, potentially reducing electricity costs by up to $170 billion over the next decade while accelerating the deployment of new AI infrastructure.