Millions of Americans are already benefiting from artificial intelligence in countless ways at work and at home. Unfortunately the public debate overwhelmingly focuses on the transformative technology\u2019s costs. A new Goldwater Institute report seeks to restore balance and urges policymakers to not only recognize AI\u2019s promise, but to take steps to harness its value while managing its costs responsibly.<\/p>\n
In Harnessing the Value of AI at Home and in the Workplace<\/a>, Arizona State University economist Domenico Ferraro, PhD, says that AI \u201crepresents a once-in-a-generation technological opportunity,\u201d but its value is often difficult to quantify\u2014AI\u2019s benefits show up in the way people save time, learn new skills, and organize information. But many people see AI mainly as a threat to jobs, the electric grid, and the environment. Those concerns aren\u2019t imaginary and shouldn\u2019t be ignored, but AI\u2019s many benefits are likely to outweigh its costs.<\/p>\n Policymakers must enable responsible AI deployment while helping workers and communities adapt to the changes it brings. That\u2019s why the Goldwater Institute recognizes that data centers\u2014the physical foundation of AI\u2014are essential infrastructure for the digital future that shouldn\u2019t be treated as burdens detached from their benefits.<\/p>\n Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bedrock legal principle: the government can\u2019t discriminate against people based on their point of view. But that\u2019s exactly what a Wyoming school district is doing when it censors public speakers critical of district employees. That\u2019s why the Goldwater Institute is demanding the Sweetwater County School District #1 end its unconstitutional practice of viewpoint discrimination.<\/p>\n Last fall, district leaders amended their public comment policy to prohibit discussions of employee \u201cperformance or employment.\u201d But enforcement has been one-sided\u2014the district has focused its enforcement against parents critical of school employees, not against parents praising those employees. That is viewpoint discrimination, and it\u2019s a violation of the First Amendment.<\/p>\n District leaders are also violating the Wyoming Public Records Act by refusing to provide Goldwater with unredacted written public comments\u2014they wrongly claim that those records are confidential \u201cpersonnel files.\u201d<\/p>\n In letters to district leaders, the Goldwater Institute is demanding Sweetwater #1 leaders reverse course on their viewpoint discrimination practices and abide by the state\u2019s public records law. Citizens of Wyoming have a right to speak freely without fear of government censorship, and Goldwater will always be there to defend them.<\/p>\n