Data Centers Fuel US Gas Boom, While ICE Uses AI to Process Tips
A surge in data center construction across the United States has led to a significant increase in the demand for gas-fired power over the past two years, according to new research released Wednesday by Global Energy Monitor. Simultaneously, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is utilizing artificial intelligence tools developed by Palantir to streamline the processing of immigration enforcement tips.
The Global Energy Monitor, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, found that over a third of the new demand for gas-fired power is directly linked to projects powering data centers. This increase represents the equivalent of energy needed to power tens of millions of US homes, according to the report. The findings arrive as the Trump administration encourages data center development while simultaneously loosening pollution regulations on power plants and oil and gas extraction. This trend, according to the report, will likely lead to an increase in US greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, ICE is employing Palantir's generative AI tools to sort and summarize immigration enforcement tips submitted through its public form. According to a Department of Homeland Security inventory released Wednesday, the "AI Enhanced ICE Tip Processing service" aims to help ICE investigators quickly identify and act on urgent cases, as well as translate submissions not made in English. The system provides a "BLUF," or bottom line up front, which is a high-level summary of the tip generated using at least one large language model. "BLUF" is a military term also used internally by Palantir.
In other tech news, Apple officially launched its Creator Studio subscription bundle today, offering access to a range of updated professional apps for a monthly price of $12.99 or an annual price of $129. Teachers and students can access the same apps for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, according to Ars Technica. The bundle includes access to or enhanced features for 10 Apple apps, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, Freeform, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage (Mac only). The base versions of several of these apps are available for free to all Mac and iPad owners.
Consumers looking for new gadgets may also consider the latest iPhones, with options ranging from models with extended battery life to budget-friendly choices, according to The Verge. For gamers, a variety of Xbox controllers are available, from basic and affordable to premium and ultra-customizable, as tested by The Verge.
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