Dear Editor:

As reported worldwide, artificial intelligence [AI] is attracting billions- of-dollars in speculative investments intended to gain untold profits and military dominance from this controversial advanced technology.

Rampant AI speculation is the main cause of skyrocketing demand for water- and-energy intensive datacenters, threatening hazards for both our environment and economy.

At the same time, some of the experts most familiar with AI are warning that before implementing it, rigorous controls must be provided to the public, vigilantly administered to prevent both general and advanced AI technology from harming social, economic, and/or political institutions. Although there were several bills considered by the General Assembly to regulate these technologies, none were adopted, and Georgia continues rewarding datacenter investors by providing tax credits for them.

Despite serious risks, both Georgia and the U.S. government are promoting AI, based in part on claims about risks to national security and economic competitiveness if its applications aren’t expedited. Other nations, including members of the European Union, are developing urgently needed safeguards based on the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle [PP] is a risk management tool used to guide public policy development. It features four key guidelines: (1) taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty; (2) shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity; (3) exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and (4) increasing public participation in decision making.

To prevent high risks, possibly including irreversible damages, activities applying AI must be carefully evaluated and regulated accordingly.

National defense systems, biotechnology research, and building nuclear power plants are prime examples of ventures with the potential for catastrophic misuse of autonomous AI systems.

In his testimony to Congress in 2023, Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, called for both domestic and international regulation of AI development.

Now, less than three years later, such precautions are being overridden by a reckless race for U.S. military and market dominance of AI. If Georgians and other Americans are to be protected by crucially important AI controls, our institutions must be fundamentally restructured, held to higher standards of conduct, revitalized in service to our common interests instead of obsessively prioritizing profit.

All citizens are urged to ask their elected officials to prioritize these precautionary regulations.

David Kyler, Center for a Sustainable Coast St. Simons Island, Georgia

Dear Editor: Firefighters risk their lives daily to protect the public—but many face a quieter, long-term threat: cancer. Research shows firefighters experience higher rates of several cancers due to repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and hazardous environments. Yet scientists still need more comprehensive data to fully understand these risks and how to prevent them.

The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFR) represents an important step forward.

Established in 2018 and opened for enrollment in 2023, the voluntary registry allows firefighters—active and retired—to share information about their work history and health.

This data will help researchers better identify links between occupational exposures and cancer trends in the fire service.

However, the registry is still growing and needs broader participation, especially from underrepresented groups such as women and military firefighters.

History shows why awareness matters: Navy veterans were exposed to asbestos for decades before the full scope of the danger was widely recognized, leaving many unaware of available medical monitoring or support.

With toxic exposures like PFAS in firefighting foam already raising concerns, we cannot afford a similar delay.

Cristina Johnson, Veteran Advocate Asbestos Ships Organization

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