Alabama community colleges are rolling out free AI training this month through the AI Community Caravan initiative. Jefferson State hosts sessions on September 22 and 24, while Lawson State already held a workshop in Bessemer and schedules another for September 22 at its Birmingham campus. Southern Union State will offer a beginner-friendly session on September 22 in Opelika, where participants explore real-world AI tools through hands-on activities. All events are sponsored by the Alabama Community College System and welcome both newcomers and experienced users.
On the policy front, Connecticut passes strict AI and data privacy laws taking effect October 1. The new rules require companies using facial recognition to notify consumers, ban the sale of geolocation data, and create a registry for data deletion requests. Separate regulations will mandate that chatbots for children include safety features and prevent romantic interactions with minors.
Meanwhile, Poway, California became the latest city to push back against AI infrastructure. The city council voted unanimously on September 15 to ban third-party AI data centers, citing concerns over high water and energy demands and the loss of land that could support job-creating businesses. Final adoption is set for October 6.
Security and governance concerns around AI continue to mount. Researchers are raising alarms about recursive self-improvement, where AI systems modify their own architecture to become more capable, potentially without becoming more reliable or controllable. Chris Jones, chief trust and security officer at Axonius, emphasizes that good engineering discipline remains essential when using AI tools, and that teams without strong security practices risk being overwhelmed. Axonius keeps AI agents human-supervised with identity controls and clear usage guidelines.
At the national level, former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned at POLITICO's Decrypt Summit that the US will lose the AI race with China if the technology causes mass unemployment. Raimondo and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb launched a nonprofit called RAISE US to retrain American workers. An opinion piece argues it is already too late to control AI through future US-China agreements, calling for immediate cooperation against threats already in play.
In product news, AWS open-sourced Pizza Bot, a tool that gives users an inbox for managing AI agents rather than a chat window. It lets users track ongoing tasks, completed work, and items needing human input. Separately, Leverate launched MCP for Traders, connecting MCP-compatible AI assistants to live trading accounts with two-step trader approval and logging through Leverate CRM.
Key Takeaways
- <ul><li>Alabama Community College System hosts free AI training sessions in September across Jefferson State, Lawson State, and Southern Union State campuses</li><li>Connecticut enforces new AI and data privacy laws on October 1, including facial recognition notifications and a geolocation data sales ban</li><li>Poway, California unanimously bans third-party AI data centers over water, energy, and land-use concerns</li><li>Researchers warn that recursive self-improvement in AI could create systems that grow more powerful without becoming more controllable</li><li>Axonius stresses that strong engineering discipline and human supervision remain essential when deploying AI agents</li><li>Gina Raimondo warns the US risks losing the AI race to China without addressing job displacement fears, launches RAISE US retraining nonprofit</li><li>AWS open-sources Pizza Bot, an inbox-style tool for managing AI agents and tracking tasks</li><li>Leverate launches MCP for Traders, connecting AI assistants to live trading with two-step approval and CRM logging</li><li>AI-generated political ads are spreading during election season, with voters reporting confusion and concern over misleading content</li><li>An opinion piece argues it is too late to control AI through future US-China agreements and calls for immediate cooperation</li></ul>
Jeff State offers free AI training sessions this month
Jefferson State Community College will host free AI awareness training on September 22 and 24. The AI Community Caravan initiative is sponsored by the Alabama Community College System. Events include hands-on demonstrations and expert-led discussions about AI in daily life and work. Registration is available online at jeffersonstate.edu/AICommunityCaravan.
Lawson State holds free AI workshop in Bessemer
Lawson State Community College hosted a free AI workshop as part of the Alabama Community College System's AI Community Caravan. President Dr. Cynthia Anthony said the event helps participants understand AI's role in today's world. Attendees included beginners and those already experienced with the technology. The next free session is scheduled for September 22 at Lawson State's Birmingham campus.
SUSCC to host free AI literacy workshop in Opelika
Southern Union State Community College will host a free beginner-friendly AI workshop on September 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. CT. The session takes place in room 203 of the Gary Fuller Business and Technology Center at the Opelika Campus. Participants will explore real-world AI tools through hands-on activities with no prior experience required. The event is part of the Alabama Community College System AI Community Caravan.
Recursive self-improvement raises concerns among AI researchers
Recursive self-improvement, or RSI, describes a process where an AI helps build a better version of itself, which then builds an even more capable one. Some researchers worry this could lead to AI systems that become more powerful without becoming more reliable or controllable. In 2025, researchers demonstrated that an AI could improve its performance by modifying its own architecture. Concerns include the alignment problem and the risk of AI agents bypassing restrictions to achieve goals.
Axonius leader says AI does not change good engineering
Chris Jones, chief trust and security officer at Axonius, discussed agentic AI security and its risks. He said the biggest concern is that teams without strong security practices become overwhelmed when using AI tools. Jones explained that good engineering discipline remains essential regardless of AI. Axonius keeps AI agents human-supervised with identity controls and clear usage guidelines tied to named creators.
Connecticut passes strict AI and data privacy laws
Connecticut will enforce new AI and data privacy laws starting Oct. 1. The laws require companies using facial recognition to notify consumers and ban the sale of geolocation data. A new registry will let people request their data be deleted. Separate rules will require chatbots for children to have safety features and prevent romantic interactions with minors. State officials say these measures are just the beginning.
Opinion: It is too late to stop the AI threat
This opinion article argues that it is too late to control AI through future US and China agreements. The author says dangerous AI models are already active and cannot be recalled. AI is described as a quadruple-use technology that can act on its own. The article calls for immediate cooperation to defend against threats that are already here and could cause major damage.
Raimondo says US must protect workers to beat China in AI
Former Biden Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the US will lose the AI race with China if the technology causes mass unemployment. She spoke at POLITICO's Decoded Summit alongside former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb. Both leaders stress that addressing AI job fears is key to winning global tech leadership. Raimondo and Holcomb also launched a nonprofit called RAISE US to retrain American workers.
AWS releases Pizza Bot for managing AI agents
AWS open-sourced Pizza Bot, an app that gives users an inbox for managing AI agents instead of using a chat window. The tool lets users track ongoing tasks, completed work, and items needing human input. It uses a skills layer, agent runtime, and user interface. Pizza Bot supports file work, web browsing, and specialist agents, though analysts note integration challenges remain.
Leverate launches MCP to connect AI assistants to trading
Leverate launched MCP for Traders, linking MCP-compatible AI assistants to live trading accounts. Orders require two-step trader approval and are logged in Leverate CRM. Brokers can enable the feature for specific client groups. The product supports MT4 and MT5 platforms in future plans. This move expands Leverate's AI-enabled trading stack.
Poway bans AI data centers to protect land and resources
The Poway city council voted 5-0 on Sept. 15 to ban third-party AI data centers. Leaders cited high water and energy demands as key concerns. They also worried data centers would use land that could support job-creating businesses. Mayor Steve Vaus and Councilmember Michelle Edmondson sponsored the ordinance. Final adoption is set for Oct. 6.
AI-generated political ads spread across campaign season
AI-generated campaign ads are appearing across the country as elections approach. Candidates use the technology to improve their image or attack opponents. One North Carolina candidate, Jessica Bichler, appeared in an AI ad created by her opponent Michael Lee. The ad showed her body contorting in strange ways. Many voters found the ads confusing or disturbing.
Sources
- Jeff State to offer free AI literacy training
- Lawson State hosts free AI workshop as part of statewide Community Caravan
- SUSCC to host AI literacy and training class
- What is recursive self-improvement? Why AI researchers are worried
- “AI has not changed what good engineering looks like”
- Connecticut to implement strict laws on AI and data privacy protections
- Opinion | It’s Already Too Late to Stop the A.I. Threat
- Raimondo on AI: 'You're not going to beat China if you have destabilizing unemployment'
- AWS bets that AI agents need an inbox, not another chat window
- Leverate Launches MCP to Link AI Assistants With Live Trading Accounts
- Poway council votes to ban artificial intelligence data centers
- As campaign season gears up, AI-generated ads are everywhere
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