🤖 Can Utah rein in AI?

Utah wants to put guardrails on the AI race, without losing it. In an open letter Monday, Gov. Spencer Cox asked Congress to regulate the most powerful AI systems. It comes just days after a researcher at Anthropic (the major AI company behind Claude) quit over safety concerns, and multiple tech CEOs called for slowing AI development. But how do you make AI safer when no one wants to be the first to fall behind? [X, WSJ, NYT]

• Cox wants a federal framework requiring companies to report serious safety incidents, protect whistleblowers, and independently test advanced models, while restricting China’s access to advanced AI chips. He’s not calling for development to stop, but said AI shouldn’t outpace our ability to control it. [Deseret News]
• That makes the path forward complicated. City Cast Salt Lake contributor and tech guy Scott Wessman called Cox’s proposal “reasonable,” but said agreeing that AI poses safety risks is different than agreeing on how to address them. He worries policymakers could adopt ineffective or overly restrictive rules, and said there's real concern that other countries could pull ahead. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
• The AI arms race is already reshaping Utah. Data centers are being proposed across the state, bringing questions about their energy needs, water use, and impacts on nearby communities. Cox has defended massive data centers partly as a national security issue. [Utah News Dispatch]
• How to get involved: Know a high schooler with opinions about AI? Students can submit an essay by Oct. 1 for a chance to participate in the Utah Student AI Policy Congress in November. And the University of Utah is promoting a $10 million funding opportunity for projects that give communities more power over how AI is built and governed. Applications are due by Oct. 21. [KSL, University of Utah]

Bike-Thru Brunch

Have you been to The Wall in the Central Ninth neighborhood? This new cafe offers a walk-up and bike-up window right off the 9 Line Trail, so you can get your brunch, pastries, and coffee on the go. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Seniors Go for Gold

More than 100 competitors from all 14 Salt Lake County senior centers will face off in a friendly Senior Decathlon at the Magna Kennecott Senior Center on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Events range from cornole to Wii bowling. [Salt Lake County]

Mail Ballots Stay Put

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to impose new restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the midterms, allowing states to keep their existing systems. In Utah, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said the ruling means the 2026 election will “proceed as normal.” [KUER]

Draw a Dino Billboard

Utah dinosaur fans can submit their hand-drawn dino art for a chance to see it blown up on a Natural History Museum of Utah billboard along I-15 or I-80 this winter. There are three age categories and entries are due Nov. 9. [Natural History Museum of Utah]