AI’s elite celebrated in Washington as the public sours on data centers and chatbots

AI party

WASHINGTON — Glitz, glamor and geopolitics were on the menu Wednesday night as Washington’s AI elite gathered to mingle and celebrate AI pioneers.

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Complete with a red carpet and a dancing humanoid robot, the event could have been mistaken for a science fiction Hollywood premiere. Even as AI becomes an increasing source of tension in communities across America, the night’s honorees were largely optimistic about the trajectory of AI and its potential impact on society.

“AI is a transformative technology that’s going to enable so many advancements, from healthcare to engineering to energy production to security,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News as the night kicked off.