In today's newscast:
Survey finds skepticism about AI from college students
The Panetta Institute for Public Policy is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its national college student survey. It asks how college students feel about a range of economic and political issues. Institute chairman Leon Panetta says while some questions have held strong for the last quarter century, others have cropped up more recently.
“ It's the last few years that we've been asking about artificial intelligence, and last year they were much more enthusiastic," he said. "But this year they're concerned.”
The survey of over 800 4-year college students found a record number feeling negative about the increased use of A-I.
”Fifty-four percent now say this is a bad thing and, obviously, are concerned that it could impact on their career opportunities.”
Sixty percent of the students fear AI could threaten their post-graduation job prospects and 1 in 4 respondents report they either have changed or have considered changing majors because of AI.
Oil and gas lease plans finalized
The Bureau of Land Management has finalized new oil and gas leasing plans that include parts of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, among others.
Federal officials say the plans are part of the Trump Administration’s effort to boost domestic energy production.
But Cooper Kass, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, says expanding oil and gas production could leave taxpayers on the hook for future clean-up costs.
“In California, we have an idle and orphan well crisis with many operators leaving behind their wells that they’re required to clean up, which forces taxpayers to pay to clean them up," Kass said. "So not only is more oil and gas extraction a threat to our health, safety and climate, but it can also strain taxpayer funds.”
The new plans signed this week will expedite lease sales, but they do not allow new drilling. And future lease sales will go through an environmental process.
That reporting from our partner, KCBX.
