Published on September 28, 2026
At least 46 AI data center projects — more than $170 billion in announced investment — have been blocked, withdrawn, or stalled since 2024 following community opposition. In this week's Reboot piece, Beth Simone Noveck and Deborah Stine argue trust is the infrastructure data centers are missing, and developers can pay for the community conversation without owning it. Rutgers' National AI Opinion Monitor shows why: AI adoption hit 72% in August while worry climbed to 50% and anger to 30%. NYC's Public Advocate has called for an AI bill of rights; the Maldives' Prosecutor General now requires courtroom disclosure of AI use; and The American Prospect reports Anthropic has been running a predictive surveillance system that flagged suspected dissenters to police.
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With Patrick McLoughlin and Kathrin Frauscher, moderated by Deborah Stine (co-author of this week's Reboot piece on AI data centers). How agencies can monitor AI performance over time, detect emerging problems, and know when a working implementation needs adjustment. Part of the Practical Approaches to Evaluating AI for Public Benefit series.
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Also coming up:
October 5, 2:00 PM ET — AI Across the Procurement Lifecycle — Where Does It Actually Fit? With Angela Shell and Emily Royall (AI for Public-Sector Procurement series)
October 6, 2:00 PM ET — Principles for Public-Sector AI Evaluation, with Dan Chenok and Michael Chen, moderated by Beth Simone Noveck (Practical Approaches to Evaluating AI for Public Benefit series)
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AI and Public Engagement
Governors now want local buy-in before data centers get built. That means bringing residents in before the design is set, and paying for independent help without steering the conversation. At least 46 AI data center projects have been blocked, withdrawn, or stalled since 2024. The answer isn't a better sales pitch. It's giving communities a real say, and the resources to use it.
Read articleAI and Public Engagement
Jigsaw’s Sensemaking AI analyzes large-scale public input to identify common ground that town halls or polls might miss, with deployments planned across 30 cities, states, and countries. Its open-source code lets civic technologists and partners like Change.org adapt the tool for their own public engagement efforts.
Read articleAI and Public Engagement
AI adoption reached 72% in August 2026, yet public worry climbed to 50% and anger to 30%, according to the National AI Opinion Monitor. Support for mandatory AI disclosures spans party lines, while a majority oppose unsupervised AI decisions in hiring, loans, and healthcare.
Read articleAI for Governance
The Maldives’ Prosecutor General’s Office requires courtroom disclosure of any AI processing so defense counsel can cross-examine its use, alongside written approval for high-risk applications. Live case data stays on self-controlled, on-premises infrastructure using Dhivehi language models.
Read articleGoverning AI
The New York City Public Advocate released a report calling for safe, socially responsible, and transparent AI in local government, with strong data consent rules, workforce protections, procurement standards, and public engagement. It also urges state-level transparency, corporate liability for false AI information, and a comprehensive AI bill of rights to ensure meaningful human oversight.
Read articleAI and Public Safety
According to The American Prospect, Anthropic has already used its monitoring system to track protests near executives and facilities and report suspected dissenters to police. The company is also expanding its global threat intelligence team and pursuing national security contracts, extending its efforts beyond internal corporate security.
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