Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2026
The most comprehensive, independently sourced picture of AI’s trajectory that is available
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Friday, May 1, 2026
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House passes the 2026 Farm Bill with key county priorities
On April 30, the House of Representatives passed its version of the 2026 Farm Bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
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Zayo Completes Acquisition of Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions Business
Adds 90,000 metro-dense route miles to Zayo’s expansive North American network, advancing Zayo’s leadership across AI and enterprise connectivity
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Several states—and the LA public schools—are setting limits on screen time
The move is an about-face for a district that, since the pandemic, has focused on bringing technology into the classroom
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Arvig Line Extension Connection Grant to Provide Fiber Connectivity to 446 Structures
Arvig will construct 104.3 route miles of new fiber infrastructure
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Construction begins on broadband expansion in Itasca and St. Louis (MN) counties
Network will connect more than 600 locations
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Brightspeed Completes Fiber Build in 13 Wisconsin Communities, Accelerates Expansion Statewide
Ultra‑fast fiber internet now available to tens of thousands of Wisconsin homes and businesses, with construction underway in dozens more communities
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Government AI Landscape Assessment
Artificial Intelligence is on the path to reshape how government functions, from the administration of public services to the back-end systems that keep government running
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Washington has a new Anthropic problem
The White House is inching toward welcoming Anthropic back into the government fold after months of animosity and legal battles
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Sen Sanders splits with Washington on AI arms race with China
Sen Sanders, who is writing the progressive playbook on AI, is shifting the focus away from U.S.-China competition and toward international cooperation around AI safety
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Top AI Companies Agree to Pentagon Deals for Classified Work
Contracts give Defense Department more AI options after it declared Anthropic a supply-chain risk
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Merit, A Quiet Success
There aren’t many network entities that can trace their beginning back to 1966
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Rep Blake Moore Introduces Bipartisan Bill Protecting Children from AI Companion Chatbots
Act would establishg new criminal penalties for companies that allow minors to access AI companions that solicit or produce sexual content
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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s New Board Chair and What Comes Next
Adrianne Benton Furniss is the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s new Chair of its Board of Directors.
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