This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study on liquid cooling technologies for data centers, specifically to assess their potential for improving energy efficiency as AI workloads grow. The study will evaluate technical aspects like single-phase vs. 2-phase cooling systems, coolant options, heat-reuse opportunities, and safety considerations, while comparing costs and benefits to traditional air cooling. Federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, will use the findings to inform future decisions about cooling infrastructure for government data centers and AI systems. The bill does not mandate new policies or funding but requires a detailed report within 90 days of enactment to guide future adoption.
The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates civil legal remedies for individuals harmed by non-consensual digital forgeries depicting them in sexually intimate situations without their consent. It defines "intimate digital forgery" as fabricated images or videos that appear authentic to a reasonable person, even with disclaimers, and allows victims to sue those who create, possess, or disclose such content. Key provisions include fixed damages of $150,000 (or $250,000 for severe cases like sexual assault-related forgeries), court-ordered privacy protections (like pseudonyms and redacted filings), and a 10-year statute of limitations. The law applies to interstate or online disclosures and explicitly preserves existing state laws, ensuring it does not override stronger state protections.
S 3354, the QUIET Act, requires anyone making robocalls or text messages using artificial intelligence to mimic a human to disclose at the start that AI is being used. It directly affects businesses, marketers, or scammers using AI for automated calls/texts that sound human, but excludes calls needing substantial human input. The bill adds enhanced penalties, doubling maximum fines for violations involving AI impersonation intended to defraud or cause harm. These provisions amend federal law to increase transparency and strengthen consequences for deceptive AI-driven communications.
This bill requires federal agencies that use or fund complex AI systems (called "covered algorithms") to establish civil rights offices staffed by experts. These offices must monitor and report on potential bias in algorithms affecting programs like benefits, housing, or loans, particularly regarding traits like race, gender, or disability. Agencies must submit detailed reports every two years starting one year after the bill passes, outlining risks, mitigation steps, stakeholder engagement, and recommendations. The law also creates an interagency working group to coordinate efforts across agencies. It directly affects any federal agency using or overseeing such AI systems, aiming to prevent unfair outcomes through transparency and accountability.
HR 2152, the AI PLAN Act, requires the Treasury, Homeland Security, and Commerce departments to create annual reports addressing AI risks in financial crimes. These reports must detail current defenses against AI-driven fraud, misinformation, deepfakes, voice cloning, and foreign election interference, plus list available and needed resources (like technology and funding) to protect U.S. financial systems. The bill directs agencies to submit legislative recommendations within 90 days of each report to help combat these threats. It primarily affects federal agencies and indirectly impacts businesses and individuals targeted by AI-powered financial crimes.
The FIGHT China Act of 2025 restricts U.S. investments in Chinese companies with ties to China's military or surveillance sectors. It prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving "prohibited technologies" such as advanced semiconductors (with specific technical specifications), AI systems, quantum computing, and hypersonic weapons, while requiring notification for certain "notifiable technology" investments. The bill mandates that U.S. investors divest from companies on the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List within one year of enactment. It establishes a process for identifying Chinese entities subject to these restrictions, with annual reports to Congress required for seven years.
This bill would require U.S. companies to obtain both Commerce Department approval and a specific congressional joint resolution before exporting advanced AI semiconductors to China. The Commerce Secretary must first conduct an interagency review assessing national security risks, military applications, human rights concerns, and economic impacts. Congress would then need to pass a dedicated resolution approving each export, effectively giving lawmakers a veto over such transactions. The bill defines "advanced AI semiconductors" by technical thresholds (e.g., 2,400+ processing performance) and applies to all exports targeting China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
The Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025 establishes a National Synthetic Biology Center within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to award competitive grants to eligible land-grant universities (1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions). The center funds research focused on synthetic biology applications in agriculture, including gene editing, microbiomes, AI-driven modeling, and sustainable food production systems. Grants require partnerships with entities like National Laboratories or nonprofits and must address specific priorities like climate-resilient crops or new protein sources. The bill authorizes $5 million annually for grants and $1 million annually for center operations from 2026-2030, with mandatory progress reports to Congress.
The RISE Act of 2025 establishes a conditional liability shield for AI developers who provide clear transparency about their tools. It requires developers to publicly share "model cards" (technical summaries of AI capabilities and risks) and "model specifications" (system instructions) before deployment, plus clear usage guidelines for professionals. Developers gain immunity from civil lawsuits for AI errors when used by licensed professionals (like doctors or lawyers) in client services, provided they update these materials within 30 days of new versions or discovered flaws. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies only to errors not caused by developer recklessness or fraud.
This bill requires U.S. companies exporting advanced integrated circuits (high-performance chips used in AI/data centers) to "countries of concern" (including China, Hong Kong, and Macau) to first offer them to U.S. customers for 15 days. Companies must certify they have no backlog of U.S. orders for similar chips and aren’t providing better terms to foreign buyers. It also creates a "trusted U.S. person" program, allowing certain companies to export without licenses if they meet security, U.S. manufacturing sourcing, and ownership requirements. The law directly affects chip exporters, U.S. tech companies purchasing these chips, and foreign entities seeking access to advanced semiconductors.
