Matthew Mittelsteadt
@mattinthemittel.bsky.social
Fellow at Mercatus Center I AI and cyber policy | Computer Scientist | Living in the east but forever a Minnesotan ❄️.
Pinned
The Nuclear Option
How Tariffs Could Disrupt America's Energy Future
digitalspirits.substack.com
What might the impact of Trump's Mexico/Canada/China tariffs? While aimed at immigration/drugs, these could have major unintended consequences. My new piece looks at one tech-relevant example: uranium. 🧵 digitalspirits.substack.com/p/the-nuclea...
The AI executive order has been repealed. Without a replacement, my question: what happens to the AI funding that was given structure under the previous order? With things like the NAIRR pilot/AISI presumably ending there are dollars just sitting there.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions – The White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as
www.whitehouse.gov
January 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The AI executive order has been repealed. Without a replacement, my question: what happens to the AI funding that was given structure under the previous order? With things like the NAIRR pilot/AISI presumably ending there are dollars just sitting there.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Security demands better transparency than this. techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/u...
UnitedHealth hid its Change Healthcare data breach notice for months | TechCrunch
The ransomware attack on Change Healthcare affected over 100 million Americans, the health giant told regulators.
techcrunch.com
January 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Security demands better transparency than this. techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/u...
Delighted to contribute to Discourse Magazine's predictions for 2025. What's coming for AI policy in 2025? A ton. To pick just one AI policy trend: I think Autonomous Vehicle reform is both needed and has uniquely positive political winds. An area to watch.
www.discoursemagazine.com/p/whats-comi...
www.discoursemagazine.com/p/whats-comi...
What’s Coming in 2025?
In this week’s Editor’s Corner, some of Discourse’s most popular writers look into their crystal balls to tell us what’s going to happen this year
www.discoursemagazine.com
January 6, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Delighted to contribute to Discourse Magazine's predictions for 2025. What's coming for AI policy in 2025? A ton. To pick just one AI policy trend: I think Autonomous Vehicle reform is both needed and has uniquely positive political winds. An area to watch.
www.discoursemagazine.com/p/whats-comi...
www.discoursemagazine.com/p/whats-comi...
Interesting look at the blurry line between 'useful' and 'a bridge too far.' AI sermon translation can positively expand access to things deeply human. Across the line is having AI itself sermonize -this is something that truly demands a human perspective. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/t...
At the Intersection of A.I. and Spirituality
Modern religious leaders are experimenting with A.I. just as earlier generations examined radio, television and the internet.
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Interesting look at the blurry line between 'useful' and 'a bridge too far.' AI sermon translation can positively expand access to things deeply human. Across the line is having AI itself sermonize -this is something that truly demands a human perspective. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/t...
Massively under-weights France's regulatory burden, but one interesting note: "Similarly qualified engineers in the white-hot US market...might cost five to eight times as much [as in France]." The U.S. should mind the completive burden our restrained immigration creates. www.ft.com/content/11cb...
Can France become a global AI powerhouse?
Momentum has been slowing but the country boasts enviable technical skills and a burgeoning entrepreneurial culture
www.ft.com
January 3, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Massively under-weights France's regulatory burden, but one interesting note: "Similarly qualified engineers in the white-hot US market...might cost five to eight times as much [as in France]." The U.S. should mind the completive burden our restrained immigration creates. www.ft.com/content/11cb...
New Chinese trade controls in advance of Trump's term. One reason I'm deeply skeptical of the negotiation benefits of tariffs is they seem to be incentivizing nations to conjure up a hardball negotiating hand to play against us come Jan 20. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/b...
China Hits Dozens of U.S. Companies With Trade Controls
The move was the latest escalation in the back and forth between Beijing and Washington over products considered vital to national security.
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
New Chinese trade controls in advance of Trump's term. One reason I'm deeply skeptical of the negotiation benefits of tariffs is they seem to be incentivizing nations to conjure up a hardball negotiating hand to play against us come Jan 20. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/b...
Efficiency is absolutely key to truly calling something general intelligence. In cryptography, we explicitly define success by how much effort and cost it takes to do a task. We should do the same for intelligence. O3 is amazing - but $20/task isn't yet human level.
December 20, 2024 at 10:36 PM
Efficiency is absolutely key to truly calling something general intelligence. In cryptography, we explicitly define success by how much effort and cost it takes to do a task. We should do the same for intelligence. O3 is amazing - but $20/task isn't yet human level.
Remarkable numbers from a recent study "They found that the performance of Waymo’s vehicles was safer than that of humans, with an 88 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 92 percent reduction in bodily injury claims." www.theverge.com/2024/12/19/2...
Waymo still doing better than humans at preventing injuries and property damage
Insurance claims back up safety claims.
www.theverge.com
December 20, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Remarkable numbers from a recent study "They found that the performance of Waymo’s vehicles was safer than that of humans, with an 88 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 92 percent reduction in bodily injury claims." www.theverge.com/2024/12/19/2...
Massive cyber attack on Ukraine. This type of critical infrastructure attack should keep people up at night. As attack's grow more serious and higher volume, the capacity of human engineers is insufficient. Automation isn't a choice.
www.reuters.com/technology/c...
www.reuters.com/technology/c...
Russia conducted mass cyberattack on Ukraine's state registries, deputy PM says
Russia has carried out a mass cyberattack on Ukraine's state registries, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said late on Thursday, resulting in a temporary suspension of services.
www.reuters.com
December 20, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Massive cyber attack on Ukraine. This type of critical infrastructure attack should keep people up at night. As attack's grow more serious and higher volume, the capacity of human engineers is insufficient. Automation isn't a choice.
www.reuters.com/technology/c...
www.reuters.com/technology/c...
Huh - didn't know social security expansion was on the docket. Let alone something that would pass. thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Social Security bill clears first hurdle in Senate
The Senate is plowing forward with consideration of the Social Security Fairness Act, clearing its first procedural hurdle on what supporters hope is a path to passage later this week. The Senate&n…
thehill.com
December 18, 2024 at 8:58 PM
Huh - didn't know social security expansion was on the docket. Let alone something that would pass. thehill.com/homenews/sen...
The cybersecurity of state agencies is in a truly sorry state. As legislatures craft rules to govern the use of AI in public agencies, they should be careful to not put limits on cyber-relevant applications as has been done in a handful of states. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/u...
Personal Data of Rhode Island Residents Breached in Large Cyberattack
An “international cybercriminal group” harvested the personal data of potentially hundreds of thousands of people from the state’s social services and health insurance systems, officials said.
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2024 at 6:55 PM
The cybersecurity of state agencies is in a truly sorry state. As legislatures craft rules to govern the use of AI in public agencies, they should be careful to not put limits on cyber-relevant applications as has been done in a handful of states. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/u...
Canada is apparently threatening export taxes on uranium to the united states in a move to check proposed tariffs. As I recently wrote, this could meaningfully combine with a range of other recently passed trade restrictions to deeply restrain this nesseary fuel. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Canada Weighs Export Taxes on Uranium, Oil If Trump Starts Trade War
Canada is examining the use of export taxes on major commodities it exports to the US — including uranium, oil and potash — if incoming President Donald Trump carries out his threat to impose broad ta...
www.bloomberg.com
December 13, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Canada is apparently threatening export taxes on uranium to the united states in a move to check proposed tariffs. As I recently wrote, this could meaningfully combine with a range of other recently passed trade restrictions to deeply restrain this nesseary fuel. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The shared U.S.- Canada grid means several U.S. border states depend directly on Canada for electricity. With blanket Canadian tariffs this necessary electricity is in question due to either direct import taxes, or cessation of exports all together. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ford threatens to cut off Ontario's energy supply to U.S. if Trump follows through on tariffs | CBC News
Premier Doug Ford says Ontario could cut off energy to the U.S. if president-elect Donald Trump makes good on a threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
www.cbc.ca
December 12, 2024 at 3:23 PM
The shared U.S.- Canada grid means several U.S. border states depend directly on Canada for electricity. With blanket Canadian tariffs this necessary electricity is in question due to either direct import taxes, or cessation of exports all together. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Matthew Mittelsteadt
them: why do you care so much about building abundant housing and wanting everyone to have affordable options for transportation?
us:
us:
December 11, 2024 at 1:31 PM
them: why do you care so much about building abundant housing and wanting everyone to have affordable options for transportation?
us:
us:
Reposted by Matthew Mittelsteadt
Congress Threatens To Leave D.C. Unless New Capitol Is Built
theonion.com/congress-thr...
theonion.com/congress-thr...
December 11, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Congress Threatens To Leave D.C. Unless New Capitol Is Built
theonion.com/congress-thr...
theonion.com/congress-thr...
What might the impact of Trump's Mexico/Canada/China tariffs? While aimed at immigration/drugs, these could have major unintended consequences. My new piece looks at one tech-relevant example: uranium. 🧵 digitalspirits.substack.com/p/the-nuclea...
The Nuclear Option
How Tariffs Could Disrupt America's Energy Future
digitalspirits.substack.com
December 11, 2024 at 6:39 PM
What might the impact of Trump's Mexico/Canada/China tariffs? While aimed at immigration/drugs, these could have major unintended consequences. My new piece looks at one tech-relevant example: uranium. 🧵 digitalspirits.substack.com/p/the-nuclea...
Following the Biden admin's round 3 of tech export controls in November China is working to respond. First the Chinese government acted to restrict exports of certain tech-critical minerals and is now launching potential antitrust action on Nvidia. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/t...
Nvidia Faces Antitrust Investigation in China
The move by Chinese regulators came a week after the Biden administration expanded curbs on the sale of advanced U.S. technology to China.
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2024 at 3:27 PM
Following the Biden admin's round 3 of tech export controls in November China is working to respond. First the Chinese government acted to restrict exports of certain tech-critical minerals and is now launching potential antitrust action on Nvidia. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/t...
A nice feature of my recent work on the impact of trade restrictions - notably tariffs and export controls on U.S. AI competitiveness in @semafor.com www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
New AI security guidance may be Biden administration’s last say on the tech | Semafor
The Department of Homeland Security document stems from an executive order Joe Biden signed last year, the longest such order in US history.
www.semafor.com
December 6, 2024 at 9:43 PM
A nice feature of my recent work on the impact of trade restrictions - notably tariffs and export controls on U.S. AI competitiveness in @semafor.com www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
We really need to be wary with trade policy. Europe and many south American countries just struck a free trade deal to create one of the largest free trade blocks. As the U.S. tries to us trade to get our way, world is laying the groundwork to go on without us. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/w...
As Trump Threatens Tariffs, Europe and South America Strengthen Ties
The European Union and five South American countries have reached an agreement to establish one of the largest trade zones in the world.
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2024 at 4:57 PM
We really need to be wary with trade policy. Europe and many south American countries just struck a free trade deal to create one of the largest free trade blocks. As the U.S. tries to us trade to get our way, world is laying the groundwork to go on without us. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/w...
If we do this we have to fully commit to the bit and name it something like 'Vegas upon Henderson'
incredibly stupid side project I think would be fun is to "name" all 435 congressional districts the way the UK names parliamentary constituencies. Yes it is more efficient to say "NV-03" but it would be more fun to me to say "Southwest Vegas"
December 6, 2024 at 4:25 PM
If we do this we have to fully commit to the bit and name it something like 'Vegas upon Henderson'
They literally have a statue of the Fonz down town. What's not to like?
December 6, 2024 at 4:09 PM
They literally have a statue of the Fonz down town. What's not to like?
As a revenue source tariffs are pretty terrible. In 2020 almost the entirety of China proceeds were spent on farmers unable to do bussiness as a direct result of the trade war. Note: these were the lucky ones, simultaneously there was a 20% jump in farm bankruptcies. www.cfr.org/blog/92-perc...
92 Percent of Trump’s China Tariff Proceeds Has Gone to Bail Out Angry Farmers
www.cfr.org
December 6, 2024 at 4:03 PM
As a revenue source tariffs are pretty terrible. In 2020 almost the entirety of China proceeds were spent on farmers unable to do bussiness as a direct result of the trade war. Note: these were the lucky ones, simultaneously there was a 20% jump in farm bankruptcies. www.cfr.org/blog/92-perc...
Even still, I think the rollout pace of driverless will catch a lot of people off guard. I think your average American's perception of driverless tech's quality lags significantly behind the reality. Many haven't updated their priors since 2016 or so.
Waymo is coming to Miami, likely its sixth city after Phoenix, SF, LA, Austin, and Atlanta. No commercial service until 2026, which suggests Waymo won't continue the recent blistering pace of 10x growth every 15 months. www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/w...
Waymo to expand to Miami, aims to launch robotaxi service there in 2026
Waymo says it's setting its sights on the Sunshine State for its next expansion.
www.cnbc.com
December 5, 2024 at 6:23 PM
Even still, I think the rollout pace of driverless will catch a lot of people off guard. I think your average American's perception of driverless tech's quality lags significantly behind the reality. Many haven't updated their priors since 2016 or so.
Google's new AI system GenCast can produce accurate weather predictions 15 days out, beating Europe's gold standard model over 92% of the time in accuracy while being light weight. No reliance on giant super computers! Really cool progress in this space. deepmind.google/discover/blo...
GenCast predicts weather and the risks of extreme conditions with state-of-the-art accuracy
New AI model advances the prediction of weather uncertainties and risks, delivering faster, more accurate forecasts up to 15 days ahead
deepmind.google
December 5, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Google's new AI system GenCast can produce accurate weather predictions 15 days out, beating Europe's gold standard model over 92% of the time in accuracy while being light weight. No reliance on giant super computers! Really cool progress in this space. deepmind.google/discover/blo...
I'm glad to see Russia is committing to the bit.
December 5, 2024 at 5:08 PM
I'm glad to see Russia is committing to the bit.