Arizona freezes new data center tax breaks for three years
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a budget bill that places a three-year moratorium on new sales tax breaks for data centers. The move makes Arizona one of the most aggressive states to restrict incentives for the industry amid growing concerns about energy and water consumption. The measure was included in an $18 billion budget […]
Key U.S. data center law faces expiration with no replacement in sight
A major federal law governing how US government agencies build, manage, and report on data centers is set to expire later this year. Sources who spoke to WIRED said neither Congress nor the Trump administration appears to be taking significant steps to renew the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act (FDCEA) or replace its requirements. The […]
UK plans social media ban for under-16s under new law
The UK government plans to ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms under new legislation announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The restrictions will apply to platforms including X, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, following a similar move by Australia. The government said the measures are part of a broader effort to deliver […]
Study finds just 13 words on Reddit can manipulate AI search results
A new study has found that a snippet of user-generated text as short as 13 words can influence the responses generated by AI-powered search tools and chatbots. Researchers found that a single poisoned Reddit comment can affect AI-generated answers across an entire cluster of related queries. The research, conducted by Cornell University researchers Hal Triedman, […]
Professor warns of ‘generational collapse’ in reading among college students
A university literature and writing instructor says many students are now struggling to complete even modest reading assignments. National reading assessments show 12th-grade reading scores have fallen to their lowest level since testing began in 1992, with nearly one-third of students performing below the basic reading level. In an essay published by The Chronicle of […]