Sarah Myers West
@smw.bsky.social
Current: Co-Executive Director @AINowInstitute | Former: Senior Advisor on AI @FTC | She/her
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
This is one of our biggest arguments: that OpenAI is vampirizing universities for the cachet and legitimacy that affiliation with higher education affords
October 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is one of our biggest arguments: that OpenAI is vampirizing universities for the cachet and legitimacy that affiliation with higher education affords
I've been feeling a little bit crazy reading the news lately about what's going on in the AI market and what it means for the economy at large. So I'm grateful I got to knit the threads together with @alixdunn.com last week.
I don’t want AI companies to get a bailout. I said this to @smw.bsky.social of @ainowinstitute.bsky.social last week, and she said they already were being bailed out. We sat down to talk about it in our first full-form video interview here:
youtu.be/WvN1wQ_CBlY?...
youtu.be/WvN1wQ_CBlY?...
Are AI Companies Cooking the Books? w/ Sarah Myers West
YouTube video by The Maybe
youtu.be
October 1, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I've been feeling a little bit crazy reading the news lately about what's going on in the AI market and what it means for the economy at large. So I'm grateful I got to knit the threads together with @alixdunn.com last week.
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
In today’s Senate Commerce Hearing the White House endorsed support for federal preemption of state AI laws. The fight against preemption did not disappear with the moratorium—in fact, Sen. Cruz introduced a bill today putting us directly on the path to preemption. A thread on its risks below: 🧵
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s recent Times op-ed on AI regulation seems like a reasonable middle ground. But it is also a reminder of a threat on the horizon: an industry-scripted federal standard that would effectively eclipse state legislation, write Kate Brennan, Sarah Myers West, and Amba Kak.
The Storm Clouds Looming Past the State Moratorium: Weak Regulation is as Bad as None | TechPolicy.Press
Blind trust in the benevolence of AI firms is not an option, write AI Now Institute's Kate Brennan, Sarah Myers West, and Amba Kak.
www.techpolicy.press
September 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
In today’s Senate Commerce Hearing the White House endorsed support for federal preemption of state AI laws. The fight against preemption did not disappear with the moratorium—in fact, Sen. Cruz introduced a bill today putting us directly on the path to preemption. A thread on its risks below: 🧵
Oracle is among the latest firms to announce major layoff rounds due to AI - I spoke to @marketplace.org about why shortchanging staff talent is a misplaced gamble: www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
AI is costing jobs, but not always the way you think
Companies making the biggest investments in AI are spending less elsewhere.
www.marketplace.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Oracle is among the latest firms to announce major layoff rounds due to AI - I spoke to @marketplace.org about why shortchanging staff talent is a misplaced gamble: www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Last week, @smw.bsky.social spoke at @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social about the AI arms race and mythologies around AGI. "If policymakers are hinging significant decision making on pursuit of AGI and foregoing near term concerns, that's a risky and irresponsible bet."
September 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Last week, @smw.bsky.social spoke at @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social about the AI arms race and mythologies around AGI. "If policymakers are hinging significant decision making on pursuit of AGI and foregoing near term concerns, that's a risky and irresponsible bet."
New census bureau data shows that the rate of AI adoption by corporations is now in decline - rough news for OpenAI, whose capital expenditure projections are now at an astonishing *$80 billion* above prior estimates:
gizmodo.com/ai-adoption-...
gizmodo.com/ai-adoption-...
AI Use at Large Companies Is in Decline, Census Bureau Says
A dip in corporate AI adoption isn't a great sign for an industry hellbent on world domination.
gizmodo.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
New census bureau data shows that the rate of AI adoption by corporations is now in decline - rough news for OpenAI, whose capital expenditure projections are now at an astonishing *$80 billion* above prior estimates:
gizmodo.com/ai-adoption-...
gizmodo.com/ai-adoption-...
Really thrilled about the recognition of Heidy's pathbreaking and deeply necessary work - first in TIME #AI100 and now in MIT Tech Review. Wait till you see what she's cooking up next!
Being recognised in MIT's 35 Under 35 just a week after being in TIME100 AI is such an honour! The profile gets to the heart of the motivation of my work, which includes the use of AI in Gaza that has contributed to a devastating death toll: www.technologyreview.com/innovator/he...
September 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Really thrilled about the recognition of Heidy's pathbreaking and deeply necessary work - first in TIME #AI100 and now in MIT Tech Review. Wait till you see what she's cooking up next!
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Today at 10:30am ET, the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social
is hosting a conversation with @smw.bsky.social, Kemba Walden, Jayshree Ullal, and others exploring the tech and trust relationships that shape global AI infrastructure.
Watch the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/truth-...
is hosting a conversation with @smw.bsky.social, Kemba Walden, Jayshree Ullal, and others exploring the tech and trust relationships that shape global AI infrastructure.
Watch the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/truth-...
Truth and trust in the AI supply chain
Artificial intelligence experts explore resilience and governance frameworks in the AI supply chain.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Today at 10:30am ET, the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social
is hosting a conversation with @smw.bsky.social, Kemba Walden, Jayshree Ullal, and others exploring the tech and trust relationships that shape global AI infrastructure.
Watch the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/truth-...
is hosting a conversation with @smw.bsky.social, Kemba Walden, Jayshree Ullal, and others exploring the tech and trust relationships that shape global AI infrastructure.
Watch the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/truth-...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Episode 61 “Winning the Race to Hell”
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which AI Now Institute’s @kate-brennan.bsky.social and @smw.bsky.social join me and @alexhanna.bsky.social to wade through the muck that is Trump’s AI Action Plan
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which AI Now Institute’s @kate-brennan.bsky.social and @smw.bsky.social join me and @alexhanna.bsky.social to wade through the muck that is Trump’s AI Action Plan
August 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Episode 61 “Winning the Race to Hell”
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which AI Now Institute’s @kate-brennan.bsky.social and @smw.bsky.social join me and @alexhanna.bsky.social to wade through the muck that is Trump’s AI Action Plan
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which AI Now Institute’s @kate-brennan.bsky.social and @smw.bsky.social join me and @alexhanna.bsky.social to wade through the muck that is Trump’s AI Action Plan
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
NEW: DOGE affiliate Chris Sweet has developed an AI tool that is being used to rapidly slash government regulations, according to details of a meeting reviewed by @wired.com. Scoop by me: www.wired.com/story/sweetr...
A DOGE AI Tool Called SweetREX Is Coming to Slash US Government Regulation
Named for its developer, an undergrad who took leave from UChicago to become a DOGE affiliate, a new AI tool automates the review of federal regulations and flags rules it thinks can be eliminated.
www.wired.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
NEW: DOGE affiliate Chris Sweet has developed an AI tool that is being used to rapidly slash government regulations, according to details of a meeting reviewed by @wired.com. Scoop by me: www.wired.com/story/sweetr...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
You have at least four new stops in the llm/ai pipeline: service provider, inference provider, model owner, and infrastructure provider. I wish they would prove that each of these are not just secure for users but that data is being used ethically at each stop!
August 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
You have at least four new stops in the llm/ai pipeline: service provider, inference provider, model owner, and infrastructure provider. I wish they would prove that each of these are not just secure for users but that data is being used ethically at each stop!
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Only two industries in America are thriving: Big Banks and Big Tech. And they both appear to want only one industry in America to thrive. So they're taking each other on in a series of regulatory fights. From me:
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Silicon Valley Godzilla vs. Wall Street Mothra
The only two sectors thriving in Trump’s economy are increasingly sparring with each other.
prospect.org
August 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Only two industries in America are thriving: Big Banks and Big Tech. And they both appear to want only one industry in America to thrive. So they're taking each other on in a series of regulatory fights. From me:
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
A more comprehensive analysis for @brennancenter.org of how the Trump administration's latest AI policy could leave us more divided and less informed: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
August 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
A more comprehensive analysis for @brennancenter.org of how the Trump administration's latest AI policy could leave us more divided and less informed: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
An estimated 38% of the total corporate cash savings created by Trump and Republicans’ budget bill will flow to just four Big Tech companies: Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
Just so happens that each donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration.
Talk about a return on investment.
Just so happens that each donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration.
Talk about a return on investment.
August 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
An estimated 38% of the total corporate cash savings created by Trump and Republicans’ budget bill will flow to just four Big Tech companies: Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
Just so happens that each donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration.
Talk about a return on investment.
Just so happens that each donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration.
Talk about a return on investment.
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
📣🚨NEW: ☁️ Big Cloud—Google, Microsoft & Amazon—control two thirds of the cloud compute market. They’re getting rich off the AI gold rush.
In new work with @nathanckim.bsky.social, we show how Big Cloud is expanding their empire by scrutinizing their *investments*… 🧵
📄PDF: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
In new work with @nathanckim.bsky.social, we show how Big Cloud is expanding their empire by scrutinizing their *investments*… 🧵
📄PDF: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
August 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
📣🚨NEW: ☁️ Big Cloud—Google, Microsoft & Amazon—control two thirds of the cloud compute market. They’re getting rich off the AI gold rush.
In new work with @nathanckim.bsky.social, we show how Big Cloud is expanding their empire by scrutinizing their *investments*… 🧵
📄PDF: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
In new work with @nathanckim.bsky.social, we show how Big Cloud is expanding their empire by scrutinizing their *investments*… 🧵
📄PDF: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
“Calling back to the tech boom of the mid-to-late 90s, investors have been asking about the possibility that this investment cycle for data centres could be a bubble”
Huge props to the person who created this graphic for FT lmao
Huge props to the person who created this graphic for FT lmao
What’ll happen if we spend nearly $3tn on data centres no one needs?
Nineties adults remember
www.ft.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
“Calling back to the tech boom of the mid-to-late 90s, investors have been asking about the possibility that this investment cycle for data centres could be a bubble”
Huge props to the person who created this graphic for FT lmao
Huge props to the person who created this graphic for FT lmao
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
July 31, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
I’ll take every bit of good news I can get. “Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health… in an Appropriations Committee vote that represents a clear rebuke of President Trump’s plan to dramatically reduce the agency’s spending.”
Senate committee endorses NIH budget increase, rebuking Trump administration’s proposed 40% cut
Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health on Thursday
www.statnews.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
The evidence on AI’s failures in the classroom is why the AAUP’s latest report on AI in higher education calls for faculty control in AI decisions - read their survey here: www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
July 31, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The evidence on AI’s failures in the classroom is why the AAUP’s latest report on AI in higher education calls for faculty control in AI decisions - read their survey here: www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
HAPPENING TODAY at 6PM ET | 3PM PT:
Join us, @smw.bsky.social with @ainowinstitute.bsky.social. and Sharon Lewis with CT Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice as we break down how Trump's AI action plan threatens to accelerate harms to our people and climate.
bit.ly/our-techfuture
Join us, @smw.bsky.social with @ainowinstitute.bsky.social. and Sharon Lewis with CT Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice as we break down how Trump's AI action plan threatens to accelerate harms to our people and climate.
bit.ly/our-techfuture
July 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
HAPPENING TODAY at 6PM ET | 3PM PT:
Join us, @smw.bsky.social with @ainowinstitute.bsky.social. and Sharon Lewis with CT Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice as we break down how Trump's AI action plan threatens to accelerate harms to our people and climate.
bit.ly/our-techfuture
Join us, @smw.bsky.social with @ainowinstitute.bsky.social. and Sharon Lewis with CT Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice as we break down how Trump's AI action plan threatens to accelerate harms to our people and climate.
bit.ly/our-techfuture
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
We’re featuring @smw.bsky.social, Co-ED at @ainowinstitute.bsky.social, and more, who will discuss the implications of Trump's AI plan and how we can fight back.
Join us 7/30 at 6PM ET by registering today ⬇️
Join us 7/30 at 6PM ET by registering today ⬇️
Trump's new #AIActionPlan threatens to expand the surveillance and criminalization of our people under the guise of “innovation.”
We’re breaking down what this means and how we can resist next WEDS, 7/30 at 6PM ET | 3PM PT,
bit.ly/our-techfuture
We’re breaking down what this means and how we can resist next WEDS, 7/30 at 6PM ET | 3PM PT,
bit.ly/our-techfuture
July 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
We’re featuring @smw.bsky.social, Co-ED at @ainowinstitute.bsky.social, and more, who will discuss the implications of Trump's AI plan and how we can fight back.
Join us 7/30 at 6PM ET by registering today ⬇️
Join us 7/30 at 6PM ET by registering today ⬇️
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Trump wanted to break up Nvidia — but then its CEO won him over
Trump wanted to break up Nvidia — but then its CEO won him over
“What the hell is Nvidia?” Trump recalls asking.
buff.ly
July 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Trump wanted to break up Nvidia — but then its CEO won him over
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
NEW: U.S. Border Patrol says it needs "advanced AI" to "identify and track suspicious activity in urban environment[s]" and "dense residential areas," according to a presentation document I obtained theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
July 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
NEW: U.S. Border Patrol says it needs "advanced AI" to "identify and track suspicious activity in urban environment[s]" and "dense residential areas," according to a presentation document I obtained theintercept.com/2025/07/23/c...
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
What Arkansas teaches us about Medicaid cuts coming to the rest of the nation. @kevindeliban.bsky.social of @techtonicjustice.bsky.social explains
youtu.be/isSvH6oX8TM?...
Bureaucratic hurdles are by design (& likely won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to build them).
youtu.be/isSvH6oX8TM?...
Bureaucratic hurdles are by design (& likely won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to build them).
Arkansas Lawyer on Medicaid Work Requirements: “Widespread Disaster & Chaos” | Amanpour and Company
YouTube video by Amanpour and Company
youtu.be
July 22, 2025 at 10:13 PM
What Arkansas teaches us about Medicaid cuts coming to the rest of the nation. @kevindeliban.bsky.social of @techtonicjustice.bsky.social explains
youtu.be/isSvH6oX8TM?...
Bureaucratic hurdles are by design (& likely won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to build them).
youtu.be/isSvH6oX8TM?...
Bureaucratic hurdles are by design (& likely won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to build them).
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
more evidence for “a bunch of AI cultists dismantled large parts of the federal government because they believed that their LLMs were intelligent and could do the work better” thesis
Reporter: The FDA has a new AI tool that's intended to speed up drug approvals. But several FDA employees say the new AI helper is making up studies that do not exist. One FDA employee telling us, 'Anything that you don't have time to double check is unreliable. It hallucinates confidently'
July 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
more evidence for “a bunch of AI cultists dismantled large parts of the federal government because they believed that their LLMs were intelligent and could do the work better” thesis