January 6, 2026
2026 is set up to be an important year for AI policy. We wanted to share the latest news in AI that you may have missed over the holiday! Catch up below:
SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL AI STANDARD A new national voter survey from Fabrizio Ward finds Americans favor a single federal AI standard over a patchwork of state laws by roughly 20 points, with strong bipartisan agreement. Voters say clear national rules are preferable to 50 different state regimes, underscoring growing public support for federal preemption and a unified AI framework.
AI OPTIMISM An excerpt of new polling by David Shor of Blue Rose Research demonstrates the country is optimistic about AI, with more Americans viewing AI positively than negatively. The data highlights real demographic splits but cuts against claims that public opinion is uniformly hostile, reinforcing that broad skepticism of AI is overstated.
AI IN WORKFORCE Angel investor Lenny Rachitsky surveyed 1,750 tech workers and found that AI tools are not just hype but are overdelivering. 55% of respondents say AI has exceeded expectations and most report at least half a day saved per week on key work tasks.
REFUTING DOOMER BERNIE Over the past couple weeks Bernie Sanders has doubled down on his position as Doomer In Chief calling for an immediate moratorium on new energy production. The ratios are worth your consideration. Here are a few of my favorite responses.
DATA CENTER MYTH: WATER A new Pirate Wires piece highlights Andy Masley’s data-driven debunking of the so-called “AI water crisis,” showing that claims about data centers draining U.S. water supplies are based on misleading or incorrect statistics. Masley’s analysis finds data centers use only a tiny fraction of national water demand and aren’t the looming environmental threat portrayed in some mainstream coverage, underscoring that panic about AI’s water use doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
DATA CENTER MYTH: PRICE A new Reason column debunks the claim that AI data centers are driving up electricity prices. Power costs are shaped by grid infrastructure and supply constraints, not demand, and states adding data center load often see stable or even lower rates as fixed costs are spread across more usage. When prices rise, the real culprits are slow permitting, underinvestment in generation and transmission, and regulatory barriers, not data centers themselves.
AI AND JOBS A new Vanguard study sheds light on the question of AI’s relationship to jobs. Contrary to the hyperbole, jobs exposed to AI are actually growing faster and paying better than the rest of the labor market. The takeaway is straightforward: AI is boosting productivity and pay where it’s being adopted.
AI IN IRL A recent Axios story highlights how AI is accelerating real scientific breakthroughs, moving faster diagnosis and discovery from theory to practice across health care and beyond. From AI-enabled Alzheimer’s research that reveals new genetic targets to Google’s AlphaGenome, which decodes long DNA sequences to improving weather forecasting, powerful models are reshaping scientific research and enabling new possibilities.
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE In a personal essay, technologist Mark Atwood describes years of unresolved medical symptoms that doctor visits and fragmented care never managed to explain. When he shared his full history with an AI system, it was able to connect the dots and offer a coherent explanation, showing how AI’s ability to analyze complex information over time can complement human care and why overly restricting that capability risks real patient harm.
AI EO IS RIGHT APPROACH In a recent Daily Caller column, Kevin Frazier argues that President Trump’s AI executive order protects Americans from a chaotic patchwork of state laws by reinforcing the case for clear national rules. Frazier writes that a unified federal framework preserves innovation and legal clarity while still allowing states to address legitimate safety and use concerns, avoiding a regulatory free for all that would slow U.S. AI leadership.
COMPETING WITH CHINA Via a note on X Rep. Rich McCormick argues AI is already the foundation of global economic and military power, and the United States must lead rather than burden itself with over-regulation that cedes advantage to rivals like China.
FINDING HARMONY In a thoughtful Linkedin post Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer for Open AI, reflected on how California’s SB 53 and the amended RAISE Act in New York could be a template for harmonizing transparency rules as part of a coherent federal framework.
FRAMEWORK BLUEPRINT At the beginning of the holiday season a16z released an AI policy roadmap for comprehensive federal AI legislation that fosters innovation and competition while also mitigating tangible harms. This nine-pillar agenda includes setting national transparency standards, protecting children, investing in talent, infrastructure and clarifying federal and state roles so the U.S. wins the AI race.
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