Energy secretary sees ‘growing’ opposition to AI as ‘very real’ risk

The Energy Department might be all in on artificial intelligence, but the increasing apprehension among the American public is starting to pose a challenge, according to the agency’s top official. During a budget hearing on Capitol Hill last week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told lawmakers that “The country as a whole is going very negative on AI, and this is a risk,” AND that “It will be a loss to America if we stop this development and this investment and this improvement.” The DOE under Wright has a major role to play in the Trump administration’s ambitious, AI-focused Genesis Mission, with plenty of focus on the national laboratories, especially. Wright said he views opposition to AI as a risk that’s “very real” and “growing, particularly across rural America.”

Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi has been nominated to serve as the Air Force’s first-ever chief modernization officer as part of a reorganization of the service’s Air Force Futures. The Trump administration announced Niemi’s nomination for promotion to three-star general last week. If confirmed by lawmakers, he would serve in a dual-hatted position as both the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategy, design and requirements and the service’s official chief modernization officer, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

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