This Month's Latest Tech News in Hemet, CA - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

The Trump Administration's AI Action Plan, unveiled on July 23, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in U.S. technology policy with over 100 targeted actions aimed at securing American dominance in artificial intelligence.

This comprehensive plan emphasizes three core pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building robust domestic AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.

Key measures include deregulating AI development to foster innovation, streamlining federal permitting for large AI data centers, and mandating “ideologically neutral” AI models in federal procurement to avoid cultural biases, colloquially termed “woke AI.” Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies underscore that while the plan ambitiously promotes public-private partnerships and enhanced workforce development - including establishing an AI Workforce Research Hub - challenges remain in coordinating across agencies and managing environmental impacts from data center expansion.

The administration also aims to leverage export controls and technological diplomacy to counter Chinese AI influence globally. For those seeking to build skills aligned with this evolving AI landscape, Nucamp offers practical training such as the AI Essentials for Work bootcamp, designed to empower professionals across industries with AI tools and prompt-writing expertise.

Staying informed about these federal initiatives and gaining applicable AI skills will be crucial as innovation and investment in AI continue to surge nationwide.

Learn more about the plan at CSIS's Experts React Analysis on Trump's AI Plan and the Seyfarth Shaw Legal Update on AI Action Plan.

On July 23, 2025, the Trump Administration unveiled a comprehensive America's AI Action Plan aimed at securing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by promoting rapid innovation, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing international AI diplomacy.

Central to the plan is a focus on removing regulatory barriers, accelerating data center development, and fostering workforce training to support AI growth. Complementing this, a key executive order titled Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government mandates that federally procured large language models (LLMs) adhere to strict “Unbiased AI Principles,” requiring truth-seeking accuracy and ideological neutrality by prohibiting the inclusion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) concepts seen as distorting objective outputs.

Implementation requires federal agencies to contract only with LLM developers who comply with these standards, with compliance enforced through contractual measures.

The AI Action Plan also outlines measures to accelerate federal permitting for large, energy-intensive data centers crucial to AI infrastructure under a related executive order promoting swift buildout.

Experts note that while the plan champions deregulation and technological advancement under a “Build Baby Build!” ethos, it eschews broader AI safety and civil rights provisions seen in prior frameworks, instead prioritizing market-driven growth and American global competitiveness.

For a detailed legal and policy analysis, visit Seyfarth Shaw LLP's overview.

Below is a summary of key AI Action Plan pillars and executive orders:

OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and MGX have launched the ambitious Stargate Project, committing to a $500 billion investment over the next four years to establish AI infrastructure in the United States, spearheading the construction of up to 20 large-scale data centers.

This initiative - aimed at securing American leadership in AI, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and driving economic growth - is already underway with the operational Stargate I facility in Abilene, Texas, soon to be expanded by an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity through a recent partnership between OpenAI and Oracle, pushing the total Stargate capacity beyond 5 gigawatts and running over 2 million chips.

The project involves key technology partners including Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Arm, with SoftBank focusing on financial oversight and OpenAI managing operations under chairman Masayoshi Son.

While the enormous scale of the buildout promises strategic security and technological advancement, it also demands significant resources, such as 50-megawatt power supplies and reliable water cooling.

However, some reports suggest that SoftBank's direct involvement and funding commitments may be less clear than initially presented, indicating complexities in the joint venture's execution.

Nevertheless, Stargate remains a pivotal initiative, positioning the U.S. at the forefront of AI innovation, workforce development, and infrastructure expansion.

For further details on the project's structure and job creation, visit OpenAI's official Stargate announcement, the OpenAI and Oracle Stargate capacity update, and coverage on the Stargate data center development in Texas.

Apple has announced a landmark $500 billion investment in the U.S. spanning 2025 to 2029, centered on accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) development, semiconductor manufacturing, and workforce education.

The plan includes the construction of a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, set to open in 2026, which will produce AI-supporting servers previously made overseas, powering Apple Intelligence and the company's new Private Cloud Compute platform combining AI with advanced security.

Alongside opening a manufacturing academy in Detroit to train workers in AI and advanced manufacturing techniques, Apple is doubling its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, fueling domestic silicon production at key sites including TSMC's Fab 21 in Arizona and supporting 24 factories nationwide.

This effort is projected to generate around 20,000 new jobs focused on R&D, silicon engineering, AI, and machine learning across multiple states. CEO Tim Cook expressed optimism about “the future of American innovation” and emphasized the commitment to expanding domestic manufacturing in states like Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, and others.

Apple's extensive investment positions it among top AI spenders alongside industry giants, underscoring a strategic shift toward vertical integration and U.S.-based AI infrastructure amidst evolving regulatory landscapes marked by state and federal AI governance efforts.

For a detailed overview of Apple's investment and its impact, visit Apple's $500 Billion U.S. Investment Official Newsroom Announcement, regulatory context from LegalTech News on AI Regulations, and industry insights at Forbes: Apple Commits $500 Billion to AI Race.

President Donald Trump's AI Action Plan, released in July 2025, proposes withholding federal funding from states with “burdensome” or “restrictive” AI laws that could hamper innovation, effectively pressuring states to align with a unified federal AI standard.

While the plan claims to honor states' rights to pass prudent AI legislation, it conditions financial support on a state's regulatory environment, aiming to avoid a fragmented legal landscape that could impede the U.S. AI industry's competitiveness.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tasked with reviewing state AI regulations for interference with federal authority, signaling potential preemption of stricter state rules.

States like California, Texas, and Maryland have been notably active in AI legislation, passing dozens of AI-related bills, some focused on transparency, bias mitigation, and the ethical use of AI technologies.

However, the federal plan's emphasis on deregulation includes removing considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from official AI frameworks and procurement, with President Trump stating,

“If you are operating under 50 different sets of state laws, the most restrictive state of all will be the one that rules... You could have a state run by a crazy governor... he can put you out of business because you're going to have to go to that lowest common denominator.”

Industry leaders like IBM have applauded the approach as fostering open innovation and U.S. technological leadership.

Yet critics warn that this federal stance risks undermining important state-level safeguards and may deepen the divide between federal and local AI governance.

For a complete analysis of the plan and its state-level implications, see the detailed coverage by Government Technology on Trump's AI Policies, the Business Insider report on funding restrictions tied to state AI laws, and the expert legal overview available at Seyfarth LLP's analysis of the AI Action Plan.

Civil rights and environmental groups have launched strong opposition to the Trump Administration's July 2025 AI Action Plan, criticizing its accelerated AI infrastructure expansion and deregulatory approach that prioritizes industry profits over public and environmental welfare.

The coalition behind the People's AI Action Plan calls for community-led, transparent, and sustainable AI governance that protects workers, families, and vulnerable communities from harmful impacts of unchecked AI deployment.

Groups like the Climate Justice Alliance warn that fast-tracking data centers fueled by fossil energy exacerbates pollution, strains water resources, and threatens environmental justice, especially in communities already burdened by industrial pollution, while Color Of Change highlights the plan's risks of worsening racial discrimination through biased AI systems and environmental racism via siting of data centers in Black neighborhoods.

Executive statements emphasize the need for mandatory bias audits, community consent for tech infrastructure, and enforcement against discriminatory AI practices.

Moreover, critics highlight that the administration's policy dismantles safeguards such as the National Environmental Policy Act and weakens permitting processes, thereby enabling a corporate-dominated tech agenda that sidelines public interest.

As part of their response, these organizations demand AI policies grounded in ethical accountability, environmental sustainability, and equitable economic opportunity to counterbalance the administration's emphasis on rapid innovation and minimal oversight.

For further details on these initiatives and responses, see the full coverage at Climate Justice Alliance's announcement.

Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry, through his company Fermi America, has partnered with the Texas Tech University System to launch the Amarillo AI Power Center, poised to become the world's largest advanced energy and artificial intelligence campus.

Spanning approximately 5,800 acres near Amarillo, Texas, the project combines 18 million square feet of hyperscale data centers with a planned energy capacity of up to 11 gigawatts, fueled by a diverse energy mix including natural gas, solar, wind, and clean nuclear power.

As Rick Perry emphasized,

“The Chinese are building 22 nuclear reactors as we speak. America is behind, and it's all hands on deck.”

Expected to deliver its first gigawatt of power by the end of 2026 and complete a set of four one-gigawatt Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors by 2032, the campus aims to address the growing AI energy demand while fostering academic and workforce opportunities across Texas Tech's five institutions.

Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell highlighted the project's significance, stating it embodies

“the unshakable spirit of our system, the Texas Panhandle and this great state.”

This massive “HyperGrid” initiative near the Pantex nuclear plant also aligns strategically with national security and energy independence goals in the ongoing U.S.-China AI and energy race.

Learn more about this groundbreaking collaboration and the integrated energy infrastructure powering the future of AI at the Texas Tech and Fermi America partnership announcement, the detailed KCBD news coverage of the Amarillo AI campus, and the comprehensive Data Center Dynamics report on Fermi America's plans.

Industry leaders have widely praised President Trump's AI Action Plan, unveiled on July 23, 2025, as a bold and transformative strategy to secure U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by accelerating innovation, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing workforce development.

The plan, centered on three pillars - accelerating innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading international AI diplomacy - aims to remove regulatory barriers to AI adoption, fast-track permitting for AI data centers, and promote robust training programs for critical AI-related occupations such as electricians and HVAC technicians.

Notable endorsements include NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang, who highlighted Trump's unique advantage in fostering American AI prowess, and the American AI Innovation Association, emphasizing the plan's emphasis on putting American workers first and reinforcing free speech in AI systems.

Corporations like Amazon and Chevron commend the plan for fostering consistent AI standards and recognizing the need for reliable, scalable energy and infrastructure.

The plan also advances federal procurement guidelines mandating ideological neutrality in AI tools, while enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally through export initiatives and tightened export controls.

However, the plan has sparked debate around state versus federal AI regulatory authority. The administration signals a preference for uniform federal standards, leveraging federal funding and FCC oversight to limit restrictive state AI laws.

This approach seeks to balance rapid AI deployment with national security imperatives and U.S. economic competitiveness in the face of global tech rivalry, particularly with China.

For further details on the comprehensive policy framework and industry reactions, read the White House's America's AI Action Plan release, the industry-wide wide acclaim statement, and legal insights provided in the MoFo analysis of the AI policy blueprint.

John Villasenor, a UCLA Luskin Professor of Public Policy and faculty co-director of the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law, and Policy, recently testified before the U.S. Congress advocating for a pro-growth, innovation-focused approach to AI regulation.

He emphasized that the United States is the global leader in AI technology, a foundation essential for economic prosperity and national security, but warned that excessive transparency requirements and overregulation could harm American competitiveness by exposing trade secrets.

Villasenor praised the Trump administration's AI strategy, describing it as

“a more pro-growth approach to AI”

contrasted with the prior administration's fear-based narrative, which better supports rapid development and entrepreneurship.

His testimony underscored concerns that stringent trade secret protections are vital to maintaining U.S. AI leadership amid rising global competition, particularly against nations with less regulatory caution.

Villasenor has also published extensively on AI policy, highlighting the delicate balance between regulation and fostering innovation. For more details, visit the UCLA Luskin report on Villasenor's testimony, the Brookings Institution's analysis of safeguarding innovation, and the Los Angeles Times coverage of the Trump administration's AI action plan.

The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers poses significant environmental and energy challenges, particularly in electricity and water consumption. According to MIT News article on AI environmental impact, generative AI models demand vast amounts of electricity and cooling water, resulting in heightened CO₂ emissions and stress on municipal water supplies, especially for hardware cooling.

Data centers' electricity use in the U.S. has surged from 2,688 MW in 2022 to an estimated 5,341 MW in 2023, with AI-specific workloads consuming 7 to 8 times more energy than typical computations.

Projections show that by 2028, AI-focused data centers may use up to 12% of the nation's electricity, doubling global data center energy use by 2030, as reported by the International Energy Agency's report on AI and electricity demand.

Water use is equally critical; hyperscale AI data centers consume hundreds of millions of gallons annually, posing challenges in arid regions like the American West, where local governments such as Santa Clara now mandate carbon-free renewable power and stricter water cooling regulations, according to Stanford University's article on AI data center water use.

Experts emphasize that mitigating AI's environmental footprint requires improving efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy, and fostering transparency to balance AI innovation with responsible resource use.

As Elsa Olivetti from MIT noted,

“When we think about the environmental impact of generative AI, it is not just the electricity you consume when you plug the computer in. There are much broader consequences that go out to a system level and persist based on actions that we take.”

The AI race between the U.S. and China has intensified into a multifaceted geopolitical and technological competition marked by divergent strategies and strategic leverage.

The U.S. continues to emphasize deregulation, innovation acceleration, and expanding exportable AI infrastructure as outlined in the White House's AI Action Plan released in July 2025.

Central to U.S. policy is maintaining dominance in specialized AI compute resources - advanced chips and data centers - while promoting AI export partnerships and strengthening export controls against China.

However, these controls are evolving from tools solely focused on national security toward instruments of strategic diplomacy, as detailed in a recent analysis on export controls and strategic leverage.

This shift includes using “chiplomacy” to cultivate alliances in the Middle East and beyond, balancing technology sharing with safeguards to prevent Chinese tech acquisition.

China counters with massive investments in AI compute capacity and semiconductor independence, leveraging its control over critical minerals and advanced domestic supply chains to offset U.S. restrictions.

As described in the CNAS report on global compute and national security, the future of AI leadership depends on securing vast compute power, expanding trusted partnerships, and ensuring supply chain resilience.

Both nations face challenges: the U.S. contends with energy limitations and ally concerns over tech dependence, while China navigates geopolitical sanctions and domestic talent controls.

Ultimately, the intensifying AI rivalry underscores a broader contest for technological superiority, economic influence, and governance norms, with global implications for innovation and security.

As Hemet positions itself within the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, balancing innovation, substantial investment, and responsible governance becomes critical.

The Trump Administration's America's AI Action Plan, unveiled on July 23, 2025, aims to cement U.S. global AI leadership by deregulating barriers, increasing infrastructure funding, and expanding workforce training opportunities, while incentivizing states to align with federal policies for maximum support (America's AI Action Plan overview).

This includes prioritizing open-source AI development and fostering public-private partnerships, but also navigating new export controls and synthetic media challenges.

At the state level, AI legislation continues to unfold across 50 states, emphasizing transparency, consumer protections, and AI ethics, which creates a complex regulatory environment that Hemet's businesses must monitor closely (AI 2025 Legislation Summary).

To thrive amid this dynamic, Hemet's workforce and entrepreneurs can leverage emerging educational paths such as Nucamp's practical AI training bootcamps, including the “AI Essentials for Work” and the “Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur” programs, designed to equip residents with cutting-edge AI skills, from foundational use to launching tech startups - all without requiring technical backgrounds (Nucamp AI Essentials for Work Bootcamp).

Together, these federal initiatives, state regulations, and local educational resources enable Hemet to harness AI's economic potential responsibly, fostering innovation while managing regulatory complexities and ethical risks in its AI-driven future.