News Politico

• The European Union announced plans on Thursday to fund the construction of seven multibillion-euro computing hubs designed to train AI models within Europe. • The initiative involves a €30 billion investment, with Germany, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain backing the development of the largest hubs. • This push aims to reduce Europe's reliance on foreign AI infrastructure and bolster the region's sovereign computing capabilities.

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the manufacturer of Roundup, effectively blocking thousands of state-court "failure-to-warn" lawsuits alleging the weed killer causes cancer. • The decision follows a specific case where a Missouri resident had previously been awarded $1.25 million after developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma from decades of product use. • This ruling is significant as it aligns with the current administration's stance but contradicts the goals of the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that the EU's shift toward interventionist industrial policies and increased state aid is creating significant economic trade-offs. • According to a pre-release of its Economic Bulletin, state aid expenditure has risen sharply due to global economic shocks and a resurgence of government intervention. • The ECB highlights a growing disparity in subsidy distribution, as member states with higher fiscal capacity can provide more support than smaller or poorer nations.

• The EU's Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, is urging Big Tech to adopt sustainable AI practices. • Energy-hungry data centers must support the EU's shift to carbon-free power, according to Jørgensen. • This push for sustainability is part of the EU's broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate goals.

• The European Environment Agency (EEA) is urging Brussels to mandate that Big Tech companies disclose the energy and water consumption of their data centers. • The agency warns that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is creating a significant ecological footprint that remains largely hidden from public view. • This push for transparency is critical to ensure that AI development aligns with the EU's broader climate goals and sustainability targets.