"In the global race to lead on artificial intelligence, President Donald Trump's administration has made its goal unmistakable: the U.S. should become the world's AI powerhouse. To get there, the Environmental Protection Agency has taken on an unexpected role. Instead of focusing first and foremost on protecting people and the environment, the EPA is increasingly focused on clearing the regulatory path for rapid growth in data centers, chip factories and other AI-related infrastructure."
"That shift has created a striking imbalance. The agency is sprinting in helping companies build the physical backbone of the AI economy but dragging its feet when it comes to using those same powerful tools to improve environmental protection and public health. Under Administrator Lee Zeldin, the EPA has positioned itself as a facilitator for the tech sector and the fossil fuel industry."
"So far, the EPA's most visible efforts focus on basic office functions, such as sorting and summarizing public comments. These tools may save staff time, but they barely scratch the surface of what AI could do for the agency's core work. The same technologies that power large language models could help flag dangerous chemicals earlier, identify pollution hotspots more precisely or focus inspections where problems are most likely to occur. Instead, AI is largely being treated as a productivity aid, not a mission-critical tool."
President Donald Trump's administration aims for the U.S. to become the world's AI powerhouse. The Environmental Protection Agency is focusing on clearing regulatory obstacles for data centers, chip factories and other AI infrastructure rather than prioritizing environmental and public health protection. The agency expedites chemical reviews, lowers hurdles for air pollution permits and streamlines approvals to facilitate tech and fossil fuel industry growth. EPA efforts to use AI inside the agency have centered on basic office tasks like sorting and summarizing public comments. Powerful AI tools remain underused for flagging dangerous chemicals, identifying pollution hotspots and targeting inspections.
Read at The Mercury News
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