Political Scrutiny

AI’s rapid growth faces public scrutiny over data center energy and water use. Liquid Death’s satirical campaign highlights water intensity, proposing urine as coolant. Politicians are increasingly addressing data center impacts, with some advocating for stricter regulations or moratoria. While industry leaders pledge responsible development, public apprehension, fueled by cost and job concerns, is growing, making data centers a significant “sleeper issue” in upcoming elections.

Market futures show a slight uptick. July’s CPI data indicates cooling inflation, potentially easing Federal Reserve pressure for rate hikes. The chip sector saw mixed results: Cerebras revenue fell short, while Cisco surpassed estimates. Truth Social’s API faces a lawsuit over its functionality. Democratic lawmakers are seeking transparency on Donald Trump’s investment managers. The Los Angeles Lakers have been sold for $12.5 billion. Geopolitical tensions are impacting shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

TikTok’s U.S. operations face glitches and censorship claims amidst political scrutiny. A data center power outage caused widespread technical issues, while users report suppressed political content, including messages mentioning “Epstein.” California’s governor is investigating alleged anti-Trump content suppression. These events unfold as TikTok’s U.S. business operates under a new majority American-owned joint venture, an overhaul aimed at addressing national security concerns from its Chinese parent company.