Google partners Walmart as Denver invests $4.6 million

Key Takeaways

• Denver is investing $4.6 million in an AI system called CivCheck to accelerate its building permit process, aiming for 80% first-pass approval.
• Walmart is partnering with Google to provide free AI training to 1.6 million employees in the U.S. and Canada, preparing them for future roles.
• Maryland is investing $4 million in AI and technology workforce training, funding internships, skills development, and cybersecurity services.
• Amazon reports that hackers used AI tools to breach over 600 firewalls in 55 countries within five weeks, exploiting weak security for financial gain.
• The increasing demand for AI is driving up memory prices, leading Micron Technology to exit the consumer memory market to focus on AI hardware.
• An opinion suggests it could be unethical not to use AI in medical situations where it demonstrates superior disease detection compared to human experts.
• A potential AI-driven productivity boom could lead the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, as AI is seen by some as "structurally disinflationary."
• Careful diligence and negotiation are crucial for AI contracts to protect client data from model training and address potential AI inaccuracies or "hallucinations."
• The Youth Congress protested the India-US AI trade agreement at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, an event attended by OpenAI's Sam Altman.

Denver uses AI to speed up building permits

Denver is looking to use artificial intelligence to make its building permit process faster. The city council is considering a five-year, $4.6 million contract with a company called CivCheck. This AI platform would help applicants by instantly flagging issues in their construction drawings and materials. The goal is to have 80% of projects approved on the first try, a big jump from the current 37%. City officials believe this investment will help businesses open sooner and homeowners move into their homes faster. The AI plan still needs final approval from the city council.

Denver invests $4.6M in AI to speed up development

Denver is planning to spend $4.6 million on an AI system called CivCheck to speed up its building permit process. Developers have long complained about slow permit times, which can increase building costs. The city hopes CivCheck will reduce errors in applications and shorten review times. This investment comes after recent layoffs in the planning department. Similar AI programs in other cities have saved time and money. The city council is expected to vote on the contract soon, with hopes of implementing the system this spring.

Youth Congress protests India-US AI deal at Delhi summit

Members of the Youth Congress protested shirtless at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi. They were demonstrating against the India-US framework agreement on trade. Protesters shouted slogans and briefly entered the venue before being detained by police. The ruling BJP party accused Congress of jealousy and attempting to disrupt India's technological progress. The protest occurred during discussions about AI's impact and the need for regulation, with figures like Sam Altman of OpenAI speaking at the event.

Hackers use AI to breach 600 firewalls quickly

Amazon reports that hackers used readily available artificial intelligence tools to break into over 600 firewalls in just five weeks. This small group of hackers exploited weak security measures like simple passwords. The AI tools allowed them to achieve a scale of attack that would normally require a larger, more skilled team. The breaches, which occurred in 55 countries, appear to be financially motivated, with hackers attempting to set up ransomware attacks. Amazon warns that AI-augmented cyber threats are expected to increase.

AI drives memory prices up, causing market changes

The demand for AI is causing a significant increase in memory prices, impacting the hardware market. Micron Technology is exiting the consumer memory market to focus on AI-related demand and is closing its Crucial brand. High memory prices have also led to theft concerns, with some retailers removing memory from display PCs. This situation is making older PCs more valuable, and some experts suggest users should keep or sell memory from old machines. Additionally, CPU vendors are shifting resources to AI, leading to potential shortages and price hikes for processors and graphics cards.

Walmart trains 1.6 million employees on AI

Walmart is providing free AI training to its 1.6 million U.S. and Canadian employees, partnering with Google. This eight-hour course covers AI fundamentals and its applications in areas like research and app building. Walmart's chief people officer stated that employers have a responsibility to prepare their workforce for an AI-enabled future, rather than replacing workers. The company believes AI will change jobs but not eliminate them, aiming to equip employees for new roles and career advancement. This initiative focuses on retaining talent and supporting a tech-integrated workplace.

AI in medicine could be unethical not to use

An opinion piece argues that in some medical situations, it could be unethical *not* to use artificial intelligence. AI has shown it can detect diseases like breast cancer more accurately than human experts in certain studies. The authors suggest the debate should focus on how to best integrate AI with clinical judgment, rather than whether AI should replace doctors. They believe that when AI performs better than clinicians, its use should not be optional.

AI productivity boom could lead to lower interest rates

A potential AI-driven productivity boom is being discussed as a reason for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. Former Fed official Kevin Warsh believes AI could be 'structurally disinflationary,' similar to the internet, leading to economic growth without increased inflation. This could give the Fed room to cut rates. However, other Fed officials are less convinced, especially as recent data shows rising inflation. Warsh suggests that even if the data isn't fully clear, the Fed might need to bet on a productivity surge.

Maryland invests $4 million in AI workforce training

Governor Wes Moore announced a $4 million investment to boost workforce training in artificial intelligence and technology in Maryland. The funding will support internships, skills development, and cybersecurity services in key industries like life sciences and IT. About $2.5 million will go to internships and upskilling, while $1.5 million will fund cybersecurity training and clinics. These programs aim to give workers practical experience and help employers find skilled talent. Grant awards are expected throughout the spring and summer.

AI contracting requires careful diligence and negotiation

Contracting for AI products requires thorough understanding and careful negotiation to protect clients and their data. Key takeaways from Loeb's AI Summit in New York City highlight the need for pre-contract diligence. It's crucial to understand the AI solution, its components, and contractual terms to safeguard data and ensure reliable AI outputs. Discussions emphasized that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to AI contracts, especially when third-party tools are involved. Protecting client data from being used for AI model training and addressing potential AI 'hallucinations' or inaccuracies are major concerns for legal professionals.

Sources

• Denver could turn to artificial intelligence for faster building permitting
• Denver hopes $4.6M for artificial intelligence will speed up development
• Video: Shirts Off, Youth Congress Workers Protest At AI Summit Over India-US Deal
• Hackers Used AI to Breach 600 Firewalls in Weeks, Amazon says
• [Insights] AI-Driven Memory Boom Ripples Through Hardware Markets, From Price Hikes to Product Delays
• Instead of replacing workers with AI, Walmart is dishing out training for over 1.6 million U.S. employees
• Sometimes, it would be unethical not to use AI in medicine
• Can an A.I. Productivity Boom Clear a Path for More Rate Cuts? Trump’s Fed Pick Thinks So.
• Governor Moore Announces $4 Million Investment in AI and Technology Workforce Training
• Key Takeaways from the Contracting Roundtable at Loeb's AI Summit (via Passle)