Seattle Central College faces $8 million budget shortfall

Key Takeaways

• Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed a bill to pause new AI data center construction to establish national safeguards and address environmental concerns.
• Senator Mark Warner criticized the proposed AI data center moratorium, calling it 'idiocy' and warning it would hinder U.S. competitiveness against China.
• A compromised version of LiteLLM exposed thousands of AI developers to malware on March 24, 2026, highlighting software supply chain risks and the need for immediate credential rotation.
• AI has industrialized cyberattacks, making traditional software security obsolete and driving a shift towards hardware-enforced security.
• Health literacy expert Komondor stresses the importance of patient communication as AI tools become more common in healthcare settings.
• Seattle Central College faces an $8 million budget shortfall, potentially leading to the closure of its woodworking program despite increasing demand for trade skills.
• Pundi AI and Together.fun are partnering to create verifiable datasets for AI training using social trading, aiming for decentralized and ethically sourced data.
• AI is transforming mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by improving seller identification, business valuations, and due diligence processes.
• AI expert Pat Zingo warned that AI can lead to isolation and distraction, encouraging focus on faith and real-world connections.
• Viral AI-generated videos, like 'Fruit Paternity Court,' are popular but raise ethical concerns due to potentially harmful or misogynistic content.

Sanders, AOC Propose Halting New Data Centers for AI Safety

Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced a bill to pause the construction of new data centers. They argue this pause is needed to create federal rules for artificial intelligence (AI) and address concerns about energy use and environmental impact. The bill aims to ensure AI benefits everyone, not just a few wealthy individuals. While unlikely to pass, it highlights growing worries about AI's rapid growth and its effects on society. Many towns and counties are already considering local pauses on data center development.

Sanders Bill Seeks National Pause on Data Center Construction

Senator Bernie Sanders is introducing a bill to halt new data center construction and AI development until safety issues are addressed. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will propose a similar bill in the House. This move aims to give lawmakers time to ensure AI is safe and benefits working families, not just the wealthy. The bill addresses concerns about rising electricity bills, water usage, and environmental impact from data centers. Despite industry opposition and unlikely passage, it signals a strong stance on AI safety and data center growth.

Progressive Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Halt AI Data Centers

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have introduced a bill to pause new data center construction in the U.S. This pause would last until national safety rules are established to protect workers and consumers, and to prevent environmental harm. Senator Sanders stated that Congress needs to understand the rapid changes AI brings and ensure democratic oversight. While most lawmakers oppose a moratorium, this bill reflects significant concerns among progressives about AI's impact.

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez Propose AI Data Center Construction Freeze

Two progressive lawmakers, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, have introduced legislation to halt the construction of new AI data centers nationwide. This proposed moratorium aims to establish national safeguards for worker and consumer protection, as well as environmental preservation. Senator Sanders emphasized the unprecedented speed of AI development and the need for public debate and oversight. While many lawmakers and industry groups oppose such a pause, the bill highlights growing concerns about AI's societal and environmental effects.

Senator Warner Criticizes AI Data Center Moratorium as 'Idiocy'

Senator Mark Warner called the proposed moratorium on AI data center construction, championed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, 'idiocy.' He argued that such a pause would cede ground in the AI race to China. Warner believes halting data center growth is impractical and would hinder progress. The bill by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez seeks to pause construction until strong national safeguards are in place. Warner also questioned giving a single official discretion over AI tool usage for surveillance or weapons.

Patient Voice Crucial as AI Enters Healthcare Settings

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more common in doctor's offices, a health literacy expert stresses the importance of patient communication. Nurse and expert Komondor believes that clear communication is key to safer and better healthcare. She notes that AI tools don't fix existing communication gaps between patients and providers. Patients should actively participate in their care by asking questions and speaking up when things are unclear. This ensures trust and understanding in the evolving healthcare landscape.

AI in Medicine: Your Voice is Your Strongest Tool

A registered nurse and health literacy expert highlights that patient communication is vital as AI tools enter healthcare. Komondor explains that technology doesn't solve communication issues, and patients need to be active partners in their care. She advises patients to prepare questions and speak up if they don't understand. This approach is crucial for building trust between patients and providers when AI influences medical decisions. Komondor founded Health Literacy Solutions to help patients navigate complex health information.

AI Cyberattacks Render Old Software Security Strategies Useless

Artificial intelligence has drastically changed cybersecurity, making traditional software security strategies obsolete. AI has industrialized cyberattacks, enabling them to operate at machine speed, faster than human detection and response. This means zero-day vulnerabilities are exploited before defenders even know they exist. Regulators are responding with stricter rules like the EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act. The shift is towards hardware-enforced security, using physically isolated hardware for critical operations instead of vulnerable software.

Marathon Game Explores AI's Growing Influence

The new video game Marathon, from the creators of Halo and Destiny, places players in synthetic bodies controlled by consciousness beamed across space. This sci-fi setting explores themes of artificial intelligence and humanity's place in an increasingly automated future. The game's release comes as AI has moved from science fiction to a tangible reality, impacting various aspects of life. Marathon reflects on how far AI has come since the original game's release in the 1990s, when AI was purely theoretical.

Seattle Central College May Cut Wood Program Amid Budget Crisis

Seattle Central College is considering cutting its popular woodworking program due to an $8 million budget shortfall. This comes as trade skills are becoming more valuable due to AI potentially displacing white-collar jobs. Instructor Chuck McQuinn, a former surgeon, notes a shift in students seeking trades out of necessity. The college faces significant cuts, impacting its ability to operate. Despite the demand for skilled trades, the program's future is uncertain amid financial difficulties and state funding issues.

AI Expert Warns of Isolation, Urges Faith Connection

Artificial intelligence expert Pat Zingo warned a Catholic gathering in Maryland that AI can lead to isolation and distraction. He urged attendees to resist AI's pull on attention, especially during Lent, and to focus on faith. Zingo, who earned a doctorate in AI, stated that AI tools should be used to glorify God. He cautioned that AI can be used to market harmful ideas and that its tendency is often towards distraction rather than spiritual growth. Zingo encouraged real-world connections to combat the isolation AI can foster.

Viral AI Fruit Videos Spark Controversy and Concern

Viral AI-generated videos, like 'Fruit Paternity Court' and 'Fruit Love Island,' are gaining massive views but raising concerns. These videos often feature anthropomorphic fruit characters in dramatic, sometimes misogynistic or violent, scenarios. Creators use text-to-video AI tools to produce the content, which some critics argue normalizes harmful narratives. While popular, some videos have been removed for violating community guidelines, highlighting the ethical questions surrounding AI-generated content and its impact.

Pundi AI and Together.fun Partner for AI Data Creation

Pundi AI and Together.fun are collaborating to create verifiable datasets for AI training using social trading. Together.fun offers gamified trading experiences, and Pundi AI will use this data to build better AI models. This partnership aims to decentralize AI data development, allowing users to own the data they help create. By verifying data on the blockchain, they ensure transparency and ethical sourcing, offering an alternative to centralized data silos. This move aligns with the growing trend of Web3 and AI collaboration.

AI Transforms Mergers and Acquisitions Processes

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by improving several key areas. AI tools help identify potential sellers, streamline business valuations using vast datasets, and optimize the creation of marketing materials like Confidential Information Memorandums. Furthermore, AI significantly scales up the due diligence process by extracting information and flagging risks in legal documents. Experts emphasize that while AI offers powerful shortcuts, human judgment remains essential for nuanced decision-making and final approvals in M&A deals.

LiteLLM Attack Exposes Thousands of AI Developers to Malware

A compromised version of the popular open-source tool LiteLLM exposed tens of thousands of AI developers to malware on March 24, 2026. Attackers infiltrated LiteLLM's build process through a vulnerability in the Trivy security scanner. The malicious LiteLLM package stole sensitive data like API keys, cloud credentials, and SSH keys from developer machines. This software supply chain attack highlights the risks of relying on interconnected code packages. Developers were urged to rotate credentials immediately after the attack was discovered.

Sources

• Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters
• New Bernie Sanders AI Safety Bill Would Halt Data Center Construction
• Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez push bill to impose AI data center moratorium
• Progressives push bill imposing AI data center moratorium
• Exclusive: Sen. Warner calls AI data center moratorium championed by AOC "idiocy"
• When artificial intelligence enters the exam room, your voice may be the most powerful tool
• When artificial intelligence enters the exam room, your voice may be the most powerful tool
• Why AI Cyberattacks Have Made Your Software Security Strategy Obsolete
• In Marathon, A.I. Is Everywhere and Humanity Is an Anomaly
• AI made the trades hot again. So now they ax Seattle’s wood program?
• Artificial Intelligence expert Pat Zingo tells Catholic gathering in Ridgely, Maryland, we need antidote to AI isolation
• There’s Something Very Dark About a Lot of Those Viral AI Fruit Videos
• Pundi AI and Together.fun Partner to Transform Social Trading into Verifiable AI Datasets
• 4 Ways AI Is Quietly Rewriting The Rules Of M&A
• LiteLLM Attack: How a Hacked Security Tool Became a Master Key to Thousands of AI Developer Machines