Donald Trump · White House · NBC News Tech
AI’s elite celebrated in Washington as the public sours on data centers and chatbots
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WASHINGTON, Glitz, glamor and geopolitics were on the menu Wednesday night as Washington’s AI elite gathered to mingle and celebrate AI pioneers.
Key facts
- The recent online poll of around 1,500 American adults also found that 70% of Americans are concerned about AI’s impact on the upcoming elections, with specific worries about deepfakes and AI-fueled
- CNN’s Pamela Brown, who presided over some of the affair, asked the crowd to “quiet down so I can tell you this secret,” which turned out to be new polling from the Washington AI Network and research
- In March, an NBC News poll found that a strong majority of Americans think risks from AI outweigh its benefits
- Americans are concerned about AI because “They are afraid they will be left behind,” said awardee Michele Jawando, CEO of the nonprofit Omidyar Network, an organization that aims to foster more
Summary
Complete with a red carpet and a dancing humanoid robot, the event could have been mistaken for a science fiction Hollywood premiere. “AI is a transformative technology that’s going to enable so many advancements, from healthcare to engineering to energy production to security,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News as the night kicked off. “I understand people’s concerns about it, but it’s going to be overwhelmingly positive for our society,” said Wright. Held in the Waldorf Astoria, formerly the Trump International Hotel, steps away from the White House, the Washington AI Honors black-tie gala brought together an eclectic mix of billionaires, elected politicians, industry insiders, lobbyists, administration officials and a handful of scientists to schmooze, snack and exchange information about AI deals and development.