Sign in

Sarah Myers West

@smw.bsky.social
6K followers 360 following 77 posts

Current: Co-Executive Director @AINowInstitute | Former: Senior Advisor on AI @FTC | She/her

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
AI Now Institute @ainowinstitute.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
We're hiring a Senior Fellow, Global Programs to lead our work at the intersection of AI, industrial strategy, trade, and global political economy - building on our AI Nationalism(s) research and partnerships & research network outside the US and EU. Remote and PT: ainowinstitute.org/general/ai-n...
ainowinstitute.org
AI Now is Hiring a Senior Fellow, Global Programs - AI Now Institute
The Senior Fellow, Global Programs, will lead a tightly scoped, policy-responsive workstream at the intersection of AI, industrial policy, and global political economy; building on AI Now’s existing r...
164
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Amos Toh @amostoh.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
1/ The dispute between Anthropic and DOD over the limits of using AI in warfare is escalating. I’ll have more to say on what these limits should be in a @brennancenter.org report out next month. But for now, here’s what you need to know, and what’s truly at stake 🧵: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...
nytimes.com
Defense Dept. and Anthropic Square Off in Dispute Over A.I. Safety
212553
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
AI Now Institute @ainowinstitute.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
We’re expanding our national security and defense work, and welcoming Boyan Milanov to the team. Boyan is a research scientist evaluating cybersecurity risks in agentic AI systems related to national security, defense, and safety-critical infrastructure. ainowinstitute.org/contributor/...
0122
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Sigal's asking (and answering) such good questions here about how to build a movement around making sure that AI works for us and not the other way around...feels like we only scratched the surface of a deep and important convo.
071
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
404 Media @404media.co · 14/11/2025
Tech companies are betting big on nuclear energy to meet AI’s massive power demands—and Trump’s done a lot to make it easier for them. Heidy Khlaaf, the head AI scientist at the AI Now Institute, tells us why that’s dangerous. @mjgault.bsky.social has the story: www.404media.co/power-compan...
713267
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
New podcast! Justin Hendrix discussed whether the AI investment boom is an unsustainable bubble and how a crash could reshape policy and public sentiment with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
techpolicy.press
What Are the Implications if the AI Boom Turns to Bust? | TechPolicy.Press
A conversation with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
184
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Naomi Klein @naomiaklein.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Absolute must read on the AI bailout-in-progress: apparently it's not enough that lifetimes of human ingenuity and creativity have been stolen and enclosed to create generative AI and balloon billionaire wealth - much more public looting is in store...
14840368
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
"Federal policy has jumped the gun: We don’t yet know if AI will transform the economy or even be profitable. Yet Washington is insulating the industry from all sorts of risk. If a bubble does pop, we’ll all be left holding the bag." [Gift Link] www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
wsj.com
Opinion | You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business
Washington is treating the industry as if it’s too big to fail, even as the market sends lukewarm signals.
16451
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Dr Heidy Khlaaf (هايدي خلاف) @heidykhlaaf.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
New Report: Fission for Algorithms. We draw on our nuclear expertise to dissect the risky fast-tracking initiatives hastening nuclear development in service of AI. This includes proposals to use Gen AI for nuclear licensing, whilst lowering well-established nuclear thresholds.
ainowinstitute.org
Fission for Algorithms: The Undermining of Nuclear Regulation in Service of AI - AI Now Institute
A report examining nuclear “fast-tracking” initiatives on their feasibility and their impact on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
2228
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
AI Now Institute @ainowinstitute.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
OUR @wsj.com OPED: The AI bubble debate misses what's already happening: a massive gov bailout, fast-tracked infrastructure, guaranteed contracts & regulatory exemptions. AI firms get a taxpayer-funded insurance policy that dot-com companies could only dream of. www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
wsj.com
Opinion | You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business
Washington is treating the industry as if it’s too big to fail, even as the market sends lukewarm signals.
12114
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
New podcast! I discussed whether the AI investment boom is an unsustainable bubble and how a potential crash could reshape policy and public sentiment with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
techpolicy.press
What Are the Implications if the AI Boom Turns to Bust? | TechPolicy.Press
A conversation with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
26025
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
This week Open AI walked back a call for the govt to backstop financing for its trillion dollar investments in data centers. This was only the tip of the iceberg; a slow bailout for AI firms is already underway. Read more from @ambakak.bsky.social and I in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
wsj.com
Opinion | You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business
Washington is treating the industry as if it’s too big to fail, even as the market sends lukewarm signals.
316576
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
New work on the effects of the 'AI arms race' on nuclear licensing and deployment. It highlights that key protections - particularly to ensure the safety of communities where nuclear plants are operating - are being rolled back in order to speed AI deployment. Read more below 👇
031
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Martha Lincoln @heavyredaction.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
This is one of our biggest arguments: that OpenAI is vampirizing universities for the cachet and legitimacy that affiliation with higher education affords
Martha Kenney, a professor of women and gender studies at San Francisco State University, described the A.I. program as a Cal State marketing vehicle helping tech companies promote unproven chatbots as legitimate educational tools.

“It’s not a ‘partnership,’” Professor Kenney said. “If you switch out the product, we would never say, ‘Xerox is collaborating with San Francisco State to offer photocopiers to all the members of its community.’”
113453
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
I've been feeling a little bit crazy reading the news lately about what's going on in the AI market and what it means for the economy at large. So I'm grateful I got to knit the threads together with @alixdunn.com last week.
196
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
kate brennan @kate-brennan.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
In today’s Senate Commerce Hearing the White House endorsed support for federal preemption of state AI laws. The fight against preemption did not disappear with the moratorium—in fact, Sen. Cruz introduced a bill today putting us directly on the path to preemption. A thread on its risks below: 🧵
21410
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Oracle is among the latest firms to announce major layoff rounds due to AI - I spoke to @marketplace.org about why shortchanging staff talent is a misplaced gamble: www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
marketplace.org
AI is costing jobs, but not always the way you think
Companies making the biggest investments in AI are spending less elsewhere.
0154
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
AI Now Institute @ainowinstitute.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Last week, @smw.bsky.social spoke at @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social about the AI arms race and mythologies around AGI. "If policymakers are hinging significant decision making on pursuit of AGI and foregoing near term concerns, that's a risky and irresponsible bet."
073
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
New census bureau data shows that the rate of AI adoption by corporations is now in decline - rough news for OpenAI, whose capital expenditure projections are now at an astonishing *$80 billion* above prior estimates: gizmodo.com/ai-adoption-...
gizmodo.com
AI Use at Large Companies Is in Decline, Census Bureau Says
A dip in corporate AI adoption isn't a great sign for an industry hellbent on world domination.
091
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Really thrilled about the recognition of Heidy's pathbreaking and deeply necessary work - first in TIME #AI100 and now in MIT Tech Review. Wait till you see what she's cooking up next!
021
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
AI Now Institute @ainowinstitute.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Today at 10:30am ET, the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social is hosting a conversation with @smw.bsky.social, Kemba Walden, Jayshree Ullal, and others exploring the tech and trust relationships that shape global AI infrastructure. Watch the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/truth-...
atlanticcouncil.org
Truth and trust in the AI supply chain
Artificial intelligence experts explore resilience and governance frameworks in the AI supply chain.
131
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Episode 61 “Winning the Race to Hell” www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis... in which AI Now Institute’s @kate-brennan.bsky.social and @smw.bsky.social join me and @alexhanna.bsky.social to wade through the muck that is Trump’s AI Action Plan
2206
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
NEW: DOGE affiliate Chris Sweet has developed an AI tool that is being used to rapidly slash government regulations, according to details of a meeting reviewed by @wired.com. Scoop by me: www.wired.com/story/sweetr...
wired.com
A DOGE AI Tool Called SweetREX Is Coming to Slash US Government Regulation
Named for its developer, an undergrad who took leave from UChicago to become a DOGE affiliate, a new AI tool automates the review of federal regulations and flags rules it thinks can be eliminated.
14196107
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
You have at least four new stops in the llm/ai pipeline: service provider, inference provider, model owner, and infrastructure provider. I wish they would prove that each of these are not just secure for users but that data is being used ethically at each stop!
0124
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Only two industries in America are thriving: Big Banks and Big Tech. And they both appear to want only one industry in America to thrive. So they're taking each other on in a series of regulatory fights. From me: prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org
Silicon Valley Godzilla vs. Wall Street Mothra
The only two sectors thriving in Trump’s economy are increasingly sparring with each other.
510242
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Amos Toh @amostoh.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
A more comprehensive analysis for @brennancenter.org of how the Trump administration's latest AI policy could leave us more divided and less informed: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
brennancenter.org
How Trump’s AI Policy Could Compromise the Technology
A new executive order says that the government will only buy artificial intelligence models that are neutral and nonpartisan, but in reality, the policy would require technology companies to conform t...
03016
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
An estimated 38% of the total corporate cash savings created by Trump and Republicans’ budget bill will flow to just four Big Tech companies: Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Just so happens that each donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration. Talk about a return on investment.
552295877
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
🌶 David Gray Widder @davidthewid.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
📣🚨NEW: ☁️ Big Cloud—Google, Microsoft & Amazon—control two thirds of the cloud compute market. They’re getting rich off the AI gold rush. In new work with @nathanckim.bsky.social, we show how Big Cloud is expanding their empire by scrutinizing their *investments*… 🧵 📄PDF: dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
The cover of the report, with dark blue title "How Big Cloud becomes Bigger" with "Bigger" in bold, and subtitle in light blue "Scrutinizing Google Microsoft and Amazon's investments", and light grey author line "David Gray Widder and Nathan Kim" on light grey page background with three clouds: white, dark grey, and very dark grey getting bigger and going towards the top right until they're off the page.
17737
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tamara Kneese @tamigraph.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
“Calling back to the tech boom of the mid-to-late 90s, investors have been asking about the possibility that this investment cycle for data centres could be a bubble” Huge props to the person who created this graphic for FT lmao
ft.com
What’ll happen if we spend nearly $3tn on data centres no one needs?
Nineties adults remember
1227
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
A reminder about the importance of healthcare to every single state www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
How Health Care Remade the U.S. Economy
Medicine is now the nation’s largest employer, but its growth may be slowing.
216052
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
14016
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
The evidence on AI’s failures in the classroom is why the AAUP’s latest report on AI in higher education calls for faculty control in AI decisions - read their survey here: www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
aaup.org
New Report Calls for Faculty Control in AI Decisions
The AAUP released a new report, Artificial Intelligence and Academic Professions, calling for policies that prioritize economic security, faculty working conditions, and student learning conditions as...
181
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
MediaJustice @mediajustice.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
HAPPENING TODAY at 6PM ET | 3PM PT: Join us, @smw.bsky.social with @ainowinstitute.bsky.social. and Sharon Lewis with CT Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice as we break down how Trump's AI action plan threatens to accelerate harms to our people and climate. bit.ly/our-techfuture
bit.ly
022
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
MediaJustice @mediajustice.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
We’re featuring @smw.bsky.social, Co-ED at @ainowinstitute.bsky.social, and more‬, who will discuss the implications of Trump's AI plan and how we can fight back. Join us 7/30 at 6PM ET by registering today ⬇️
012
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
The Verge @theverge.com · 24/07/2025
Trump wanted to break up Nvidia — but then its CEO won him over
buff.ly
Trump wanted to break up Nvidia — but then its CEO won him over
“What the hell is Nvidia?” Trump recalls asking.
127614
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Hari Sreenivasan @nowhari.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
What Arkansas teaches us about Medicaid cuts coming to the rest of the nation. @kevindeliban.bsky.social of @techtonicjustice.bsky.social explains youtu.be/isSvH6oX8TM?... Bureaucratic hurdles are by design (& likely won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to build them).
youtu.be
Arkansas Lawyer on Medicaid Work Requirements: “Widespread Disaster & Chaos” | Amanpour and Company
YouTube video by Amanpour and Company
153
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 23/07/2025
more evidence for “a bunch of AI cultists dismantled large parts of the federal government because they believed that their LLMs were intelligent and could do the work better” thesis
16287072618
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Big tech promotes the story that since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, AI has been so popular it's rushed to meet the demand. The reality is different. A study by design scholars shows tech co's have had to push AI on its users with a variety of intrusive tactics. How big tech is force-feeding us AI:
bloodinthemachine.com
How big tech is force-feeding us AI
Plus, OpenAI's absurd listening tour, top AI scientists say AI is evolving beyond our control, Facebook is putting data centers in tents, and the AI bubble question — answered?
402157936
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
A year ago I used the term "surveillance pricing" to describe companies taking your personal data and weaponizing it to set individualized prices. Just a year later, a bill in Congress proposes banning the practice, supplementing several state bills. I talked to the author, @repcasar.bsky.social:
prospect.org
First-Ever Ban on Surveillance Pricing Introduced in Congress
A bill authored by Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) would stop companies from setting individualized prices and wages based on spy dossiers they assemble on Americans.
521965
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Alex Hanna @alexhanna.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
🔥 from @hellobrittparis.bsky.social Lindsey Weinberg, and Emma May around the weaponization of AI in higher ed. academeblog.org/2025/07/22/f...
Join the Fight
The issue is not whether you personally use Microsoft CoPilot to help with slogging through emails, and it’s not about punishing students. Rather, it is about the value of your work, being paid appropriately for it, the importance of learning and intellectual curiosity, being able to have control over your working conditions, and caring about the future of participation in a democratic society.
13813
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
The WH is promising a ‘new frontier of scientific discovery’ even as it defunds our universities. The AI Action Plan serves only the bottom lines of a few oligarchs - that’s why we and 100+ orgs are uniting behind a People’s AI Action Plan. Read here: peoplesaiaction.com
peoplesaiaction.com
People's AI Action Plan
060
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tamara Kneese @tamigraph.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
In our new policy brief for @datasociety.bsky.social, @mwoluchem.bsky.social and I break down the myths and industry talking points attached to data centers. Who benefits from unbridled data center growth and who is most at risk when such speculative ventures fail?
datasociety.net
Data Centers Aren’t the Future of American Prosperity
Tamara Kneese and Maia Woluchem cut through lobbying points and speculative myths to focus on what the evidence reveals about the tech industry’s claims.
15931
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Tamara Kneese @tamigraph.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
When the data center lobby comes knocking, local officials might be drawn in by the supposed economic benefits that data centers can bring. And the public is told that data centers are our collective destiny, that we have no choice but to build ever more sprawling data centers at a frantic pace
1184
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Dan Greene @dmgreene.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Privileged to be a part of this project, led by the incomparable Britt Paris.
34410
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
I spoke with @davidingram.bsky.social at NBC last week about the Pentagon’s announcement of several multimillion dollar contracts with commercial AI firms for natsec uses - a dangerous move that risks making our critical infrastructure vulnerable: www.nbcnews.com/tech/securit...
nbcnews.com
Musk's xAI was a late addition to the Pentagon’s set of $200 million AI contracts, former Defense employee says
The initiative hadn’t been planned to include xAI’s Grok model as recently as March, the former Pentagon employee said.
2175
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 21/07/2025
Exclusive: Stargate, an effort to supercharge the U.S.’s artificial-intelligence ambitions, has sharply scaled back its near-term plans.
on.wsj.com
SoftBank and Open AI’s $500 Billion AI Project Struggles to Get Off Ground
The Stargate venture, introduced at a White House event, is now setting the more modest goal of building a small data center by year-end
1813140
Sarah Myers West @smw.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
The study finds that in 2022 over 26% of systems reviewed gave a disclaimed that they aren’t providing medical advice. Now? Less than 1%.
12914
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Trying to think of other revolutionary products that consumers repeatedly had to be tricked into paying for rather than ones that consumers loved and demanded
532808738
Reposted by Sarah Myers West
Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 18/07/2025
"RealPage will integrate Livble into its property management software & handle “all collections.”Last year,the US DoJ & several states sued RealPage over claims that it monopolized the market for commercial revenue management software used to set price of apartments" www.theverge.com/news/710036/...
theverge.com
RealPage goes from setting rent to collecting it
RealPage is facing antitrust scrutiny already.
2179