Technology
AI could usher in a golden age of technological breakthroughs – if it doesn’t kill us first
Somehow, we were not prepared for this. Artificial intelligence was in development for decades, during which time we fantasized about all the wonderful things it was going to do for us. And then the bots launched almost fully formed like Athena springing from the forehead of Zeus with her sword in hand, and only then […]
States rethink data centers as ‘electricity hogs’ strain the grid
State Sen. Norm Needleman championed the 2021 legislation designed to lure major data centers to Connecticut. The Democratic lawmaker hoped to better compete with nearby states, bring in a growing industry, and provide paychecks for workers tasked with building the sprawling server farms. But this legislative session, he’s wondering if those tax breaks are appropriate for all […]
Is Virginia’s tech industry prepared for the next cyberattack?
Last month, the nation’s largest healthcare payment system was the victim of a large-scale cyberattack targeting America’s critical infrastructure, which caused a hospital network failure. The security breach prompted widespread panic, disabling the systems doctors rely on every day. The attack prevented providers from finding money to pay for life-saving medicine and with payment histories […]
States rush to combat AI threat to elections
This year’s presidential election will be the first since generative AI — a form of artificial intelligence that can create new content, including images, audio and video — became widely available. That’s raising fears that millions of voters could be deceived by a barrage of political deepfakes. But, while Congress has done little to address […]
Va. congressional delegation supports U.S. House vote to effectively ban TikTok
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill that effectively bans TikTok unless the company splits from its Chinese owner ByteDance because of national security concerns. The 352-65 vote occurred just a week after lawmakers introduced the bipartisan proposal and days after the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously advanced […]
Virginia House punts on proposal to prohibit ‘addictive’ social media feeds for minors
Virginia lawmakers seem to agree that kids spending too much time on social media is a problem. But they’re not ready to pass new laws on the topic just yet. On Monday, a Democratic-led House of Delegates subcommittee voted to delay action on a Democratic state senator’s proposal to prohibit social media companies from using […]
Virginia legislators should be learning all they can about AI
When you let your phone unlock itself by scanning your face, ask Alexa or Siri for directions, shop online, apply for a job or check your account in a banking app, your experience is underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI), technology that makes machines mimic human attributes like thinking, learning and suggesting. As AI continues infiltrating […]
Virginia’s new legislation to supercharge broadband availability
In the heart of rural Virginia, nestled among rolling hills and serene landscapes, lives the Anderson family. For them, a reliable high-speed internet connection is more than just a convenience; it is a lifeline to the modern world. Yet, despite living in the 21st century, they find themselves trapped in a digital divide, unable to […]
Why we can’t fall for arguments against speed cameras
Decades-long experience with speed cameras shows they can reduce deaths and serious injuries by 20-25% and more. Arguments lodged against speed cameras are easily refuted or at least insubstantial when weighed against their life-saving benefits. People are dying on our highways in dramatically increasing numbers. Speeding is one of the most significant causes of these […]
Va. joins 32 states suing Meta over allegations its social media platforms harm youth
Today, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the commonwealth is joining 32 other states in a federal lawsuit against Meta over allegations its social media platforms are purposely harmful to children. The lawsuit alleges that Meta knew about the extent of the psychological and health harms suffered by young users addicted to its platforms, including […]
Be careful what information you post about children on social media
By Neera Doss Burner The internet has become a part of our daily life. Whether you access it on a computer, or a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet, the internet has opened doors for us. Unfortunately, there can be scary surprises behind some of those doors. We pay a price to […]
Virginia can help keep the global internet free, open and accessible
By Asheesh Agarwal As a national leader in cybersecurity, Virginia is setting the standards for data protection and critical infrastructure through its numerous data centers, cloud computing capacity, and skilled workforce. A recent report by the American Edge Project explains how Virginia’s expertise could help to keep the internet open and accessible for everyone. […]