Last week, the U.S. House held a hearing focused on AI education, “Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age.” Microsoft’s Senior Director of Education and Workforce Policy Allyson Knox testified, sharing insights gathered from teachers about integrating AI into education. She also offered policy recommendations, including, among others, supporting professional development for teachers; promoting AI literacy; and providing guidance on responsible AI use. You can read her full testimony here and coverage of the hearing from K-12 Dive here.
Thank you for reading! Please also check out our Featured Highlight below, a blog by a VFI leader about bringing AI education right into your home.
This Week in Washington
- FedScoop: The Department of Energy has begun implementing AI infrastructure initiatives in line with President Trump’s Genesis Mission executive order. Last week, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory both launched data center design initiatives.
- CyberScoop: A U.S. led international enforcement successfully shut down LeakBase, a major cybercrime marketplace with over 142,000 members. More than 14 countries were involved in the operation, with actions taken against 37 of the most active users. Also this week, a Microsoft-led effort that included Europol and several other nations and security firms dismantled Tycoon 2FA, a phishing kit and platform used for cyberattacks.
- New York Times: Tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, signed President Trump’s ratepayer protection pledge this week. The pledge, previously announced during the President’s State of the Union address, is a commitment to pay for energy infrastructure costs needed to sustain data centers without negatively impacting consumers.
Article Summary
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo: The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation hosted a three-week AI skills course for ecologists. The course aimed to teach ecologists how to use machine learning tools, drone surveys, and other innovations to improve data collection and conservation efforts.
- StateScoop: The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released a report showing that state governments are beginning to look at agentic AI to improve bureaucracy and speed up processes. Most programs are still in their pilot phase.
- Bleeping Computer: More than 1.2 million people’s social security numbers were stolen in the ransomware attack on the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s Epidemiology Division last year. The school confirmed this week that the previously reported attack included the confidential information.
- Delaware Business Times: Delaware Governor Matt Meyer launched a statewide Permitting Accelerator. The program is designed to drive innovation on broadband, energy development, and other infrastructure projects by assigning a concierge to shepherd high-impact projects through bureaucracy.
Featured Highlight
- Voices for Innovation Blog
Voices for Innovation Advisory Task Force member Amanda Lee provides practical advice for educating kids about AI. She writes that it’s essential that AI be incorporated into how students learn—especially since it’s already part of the workplace and other nations are integrating AI into their classrooms. (Preparing Our Kids for the AI Era) 5 minute read
Note: Voices for Innovation regularly shares a range of opinion articles and press releases from organizations in and publications covering tech policy. These pieces are meant to educate our audience, not to endorse specific platforms or bills.