Washington’s AI establishment gathered for a black-tie gala steps from the White House as public skepticism toward the technology intensifies. The Washington AI Honors, sponsored by firms including Anthropic, Microsoft and Meta, drew senior officials such as Energy Secretary Chris Wright, National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, along with investors and executives like Kevin O’Leary and Nvidia co-founder Chris Malachowsky. Speakers touted AI’s potential in health care, education and defense but acknowledged growing backlash over data centers, energy use and potential job losses. A new Washington AI Network/Morning Consult poll presented at the event found AI ranking below other U.S. institutions on trust, with 70% of respondents expressing concern about AI’s role in elections and deepfakes. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll underscored military applications that “accelerate the kill chain,” while Omidyar Network’s Michele Jawando urged industry leaders to broaden inclusion in product design. Senators Mike Rounds and Mark Warner were among the honorees.
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