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New York becomes first state to impose one-year pause on new AI datacenters

14 July 2026 at 18:23

Governor Kathy Hochul issues executive order enacting a moratorium on the large, resource-intensive AI facilities

New York became the first US state to enact a moratorium on new datacenters on Tuesday.

Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order mandating a one-year statewide pause on the large facilities used to power artificial intelligence products, which she signed at a mid-morning press conference.

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Β© Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images

Can AI equalize political campaign ads – or will it remain a tool for spreading lies?

8 July 2026 at 14:00

Political campaigns are increasingly deploying AI and deepfakes to further their messaging, and the scale of spread has experts concerned

From the comfort of his bed, Jonathan Rinaldi, a political candidate for a city council seat in Queens, New York, tinkered away on his iPhone, prompting an artificial intelligence chatbot to mock up fake news hits and endorsements he had never received.

During the campaign last October, Rinaldi shared one of those stories, made to appear real with a CNN logo, on his Facebook and Instagram. It stated that Lynn Schulman, his opponent and an incumbent Democrat, had been β€œforced to drop out of the race due to a series of critical mistakes”. But Schulman had not quit her campaign, and in November, won by a landslide.

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Β© Illustration: Guardian Design

Β© Illustration: Guardian Design

Β© Illustration: Guardian Design

β€˜Absolutely bananas’: San Francisco homes sell for $1m above asking price amid AI boom

7 July 2026 at 23:33

Report finds widespread overbidding as rapid AI growth generates increased wealth in city where housing is scarce

San Francisco’s AI boom has buyers spending unprecedented amounts of money on homes – much more than sellers are asking for.

A new analysis from real-estate brokerage Compass, found that in the first half of 2026, more than 140 homes in the city sold for at least $1m above their asking price, 44 of them in June alone.

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Β© Photograph: Ethan Swope/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Ethan Swope/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Ethan Swope/Getty Images

In first, California city overwhelmingly votes to permanently ban datacenters

3 June 2026 at 20:40

While many US city councils have passed moratoriums, Monterey Park is first where residents have voted on a ban

Residents in Monterey Park, California, became the first in the US to vote on a permanent ban on datacenters on Tuesday, and early results indicate a resounding victory for the prohibition.

While many cities and counties have already passed temporary or indefinite moratoriums via their local governments, Monterey Park would be the first to do so through a ballot initiative.

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Β© Photograph: Steven Kung

Β© Photograph: Steven Kung

Β© Photograph: Steven Kung

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