Trump expands voluntary pledge to blunt AI-driven utility bill surges

Trump's 50 percent Canada tariffs: What to know US President Donald Trump's administration has said it will expand a voluntary pledge seeking to shield consumers from the energy costs of the rapid expansion of data centres, mostly used by artificial intelligence companies. The White House announced on Thursday that it would add state governors and electricity companies to the agreement, first announced with tech and AI firms in March. But the US administration stopped short of any enforceable protections. The pledge is a "public commitment that hyperscalers, AI companies, and the utilities and data-center developers behind them will build, bring, or buy every kilowatt their facilities need -- and cover every dollar of the infrastructure that delivers it". It says consumers would not foot the bill for AI's energy needs.