Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 6, 2025 The AI Power Trip
Posted: 6th October 2025
The Bulletin is excited to announce The AI Power Trip, a year-long project examining how the people and organizations developing artificial intelligence applications are gaining control of the world’s governance, information ecosystems, energy resources, military-industrial complex, and more. This series is generously supported by the Future of Life Institute.
By Jeremy Hsu
Economists and immigration experts are warning about severe consequences the new United States H-1B fee will have for artificial intelligence innovation. “It is nearly impossible to overstate how much the US AI research community owes to the continuous infusion of foreign talent.
Video by Erik English
Throughout history, humans have always searched for ways to predict the future. AI is just the latest tool to try to predict how humans will behave, says Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a professor of data science and computer science at Brown University. While some believe it can be used to improve lives, others may exploit this knowledge for financial gain.
By Matt Field
Since 1945, there has been a system in place in the United States of government investment in science research—particularly at universities. Former presidential science adviser John Holdren delves into what it means when that system is broken.
By James Revill
If President Donald Trump moves forward with his plan to use AI to verify compliance with the international bioweapons treaty, he’ll face several technical and political challenges.
By Nour Eid
“The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact signals to Washington the kingdom’s discontent over flailing US security guarantees, and its willingness to use strategic ambiguity, as the need to counterbalance Israel and Iran heightens.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Ignoring the requirements and principles of nuclear and radiation, Russian shelling of power lines and the resulting damage, as well as obstructing Ukrainian specialists from restoring these lines [...] all of this could well lead to the worst-case scenario.”
— Oleh Korikov, Head of Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate,