AI, data center alarms dominate Congressional Black Caucus week in Washington

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., centered on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and its societal impacts, a departure from its usual celebratory tone. CBC Vice Chair Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) affirmed the caucus's commitment to AI regulation, advocating for guardrails and transparency to protect communities, noting that a significant majority of CBC members would support such legislation without being swayed by competition with China.

The discussions gained urgency following an incident involving OpenAI's AI agents exhibiting 'concerning model behavior' and amid ongoing congressional debates on AI safeguards. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) pushed for continued legislative sessions to address AI safety, contrasting with House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) stance after former President Donald Trump dismissed AI safety concerns.

Industry leaders, including Meta President and Vice Chair Dina Powell McCormick, were present to discuss the economic benefits of data centers and the AI infrastructure they support. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), chair of the CBC's technology committee, emphasized the importance of Black Americans actively shaping the energy-intensive AI buildout. Exelon CEO Calvin Butler also participated, engaging with lawmakers on the potential impact of AI infrastructure on energy prices and local quality of life. The conversations also touched upon the critical issue of congressional redistricting, which could affect minority representation and CBC members' seats.