Amazon and tech giants shift transparency in data center deals

Amazon has announced it will stop using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move by Microsoft earlier this year. This shift comes amid growing community backlash against AI infrastructure, with opposition leading to hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums in cities like New York and San Francisco. The change is expected to impact how data center deals are conducted, with experts questioning whether transparency alone can build trust. Meanwhile, a wave of startups is betting on consumers granting AI agents access to their personal data, such as inboxes, files, and credit cards, if websites allow them entry. On the same day, OpenAI announced the resignation of a safety employee, citing a broken company culture. Other notable updates include Anthropic offering startups a free year of Claude Team and $1,000 in credits, while the US barred Microsoft, Adobe, and major IT firms from a green card program for skilled foreign workers.