Abundance Institute

Fear is costing us our future. While technology holds the power to transform our economy and lives, we often throttle technological breakthroughs before they can fulfill their life-changing potential. Fueled by a mix of cultural anxieties and policy challenges, this fear-based approach risks denying humans an abundant future. To overcome this, we must shift the popular narrative from pessimism to optimism. We must focus on the societal and policy barriers AI, energy, and other emerging technologies face. How will we do this? ➡️ Invest in talent development and talent assembly ➡️ Support a community of optimists, founders, and innovators ➡️ Shape public policies before emerging technologies go mainstream ➡️ Shift the popular narrative from pessimism to optimism How different would today’s discussions of AI be if we had started better conversations 10 years earlier? And how different will it be for other frontier technologies on the horizon? It’s time for everyone to see the good. Join our mailing list to stay in touch: https://lnkd.in/dkBDwPqr

GridWise Alliance CEO Karen Wayland will join a powerhouse panel of industry leaders at the IEEE PES Energy & Policy Forum this Wednesday, April 16, from 9:30–10:30 AM at the Westin Downtown, Washington, D.C. Panel Title: All Hands on Deck: State and Federal Collaboration to Unleash American Energy Innovation Session Description: As demand for electricity grows and the grid continues to evolve, this plenary explores how cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking policy—at both the state and federal levels—are driving a more innovative, resilient energy future. Moderator: Michael Pesin, U.S. Department of Energy Speakers: Karen Wayland, GridWise Alliance Elliott J. N., Edison Electric Institute Travis Fisher, Cato Institute Josh Smith, Abundance Institute Danielle Sass Byrnett, NARUC Don’t miss this important conversation at the intersection of policy, innovation, and grid modernization! #GridModernization #EnergyPolicy #CleanEnergy #IEEE #GridWiseAlliance #InnovationInEnergy

We made The Webby Awards list! Our website was named an Official Honoree in the Charitable Organizations/Non-Profit category, placing in the top 25% out of nearly 13,000 entries. Not bad for year one. Huge thanks to the brilliant team at SLASH for helping us build a site that doesn’t just look good but carries the weight of the work behind it. More to come.

Last week, Neil Chilson testified before two key congressional hearings on artificial intelligence: one on "America’s AI Moonshot: The Economics of AI, Data Centers, and Power Consumption" and the second on "Artificial Intelligence: Examining Trends in Innovation and Competition." His message to lawmakers was clear: To realize AI’s full potential for economic growth, public health, and national security, we need to cut bottlenecks, not build new ones. In both hearings, Neil emphasized: • Streamlining energy permitting to keep up with AI-driven electricity demand • Preserving open software innovation against a patchwork of premature state-level AI laws • Protecting competition by avoiding regulation that locks in incumbents and sidelines startups • Recognizing AI as an economic ecosystem, not a monopoly story AI isn’t just about models or infrastructure—it’s about the freedom to build, to experiment, and to compete. Watch below to hear Neil’s opening comments on why a smart regulatory launchpad matters more than ever.

See you in DC next week!

In a new piece for Deseret News on the Abundance Agenda, Christopher Koopman makes a compelling case for Utah as the place where abundance isn’t just an idea, it’s already being built. From investments in next-gen nuclear power to an AI regulatory sandbox, Utah is becoming a blueprint for positive-sum, pro-growth governance. At a time when zero-sum thinking dominates national discourse, Utah offers a different path: one rooted in innovation, pragmatism, and belief in a better future.

📢 Don’t Miss This Key Texas Energy Policy Discussion! 📢 Texas’ energy demand is surging—how can we ensure a reliable, affordable, and abundant power supply for the future? Join our friends at the American Conservation Coalition on April 3rd at the Texas Capitol for a crucial discussion on Meeting Texas Energy Demand through Abundance Policy. 🗓 Thursday, April 3 📍 Texas Capitol, Members Lounge ⏰ 5:00 - 7:00 PM (Doors at 4:45 PM) 💬 Panel + Q&A + Networking Featuring insights from top energy leaders: 🔹 Representative Drew Darby – Chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources 🔹 Doug Lewin – PowerHouse Texas Board Chair & Host of the Energy Capital Podcast 🔹 Josiah Neeley – Senior Fellow & Energy Policy Director, R Street Institute 🔹 Josh T. Smith – Energy Policy Lead, Abundance Institute (moderator) This is a must-attend event for policymakers, advocates, and energy professionals looking to shape Texas' energy future. RSVP now! https://lnkd.in/gZZ86ZCz

"The great American research university wasn’t designed to be a venue for ideological battles or a safe space for avoiding difficult ideas. It was funded and built to prevent and solve problems — to combine teaching, research and practical innovation in service of human advancement." That vision built the internet, pioneered computer graphics, and mapped the human genome. But today, too many universities have drifted from innovation-guided missions—and the consequences are real: a growing gap between what’s technologically possible and what gets to market. We’re proud of our a new partnership between University of Utah and Abundance Institute to help fix that. As Taylor Randall and Christopher Koopman write in Deseret News, together, we’re: • Connecting researchers with regulatory experts to navigate policy barriers • Building bridges between academia and private industry • Advocating for smarter policies that enable innovation in AI, energy, health care, and more It’s time to reclaim the soul of the research university and recommit to solving the biggest challenges of our time.

American universities used to change the world: splitting atoms, building the internet, and pioneering health technologies. Now? Too many remain stuck in cultural battles rather than reclaiming their role as engines of human progress —not just studying problems, but solving them. This partnership between the Abundance Institute and the University of Utah is amazing. It will lead to More Intelligence, More Energy, and More Humans living longer and meaningful lives. Abundance Institute is a force for unleashing innovation and technological progress through public policy and the University of Utah has a rich history as one of the most innovative universities in country. Its alumni built Pixar, Adobe, and Atari. It was the first outside of California to join ARPANET — the first public computer network used primarily for research and academic purposes. Its researchers have led breakthroughs in: • Computer graphics, digital sound, and the artificial heart • The Human Genome Project, accelerating modern medicine • Self-healing materials like crack-repairing cement • Quantum computing and AI-driven smart cities Together, Abundance and the University of Utah will identify the policies that slow progress, help researchers navigate (and change) regulations, and scale promising innovations with private sector partners. Congrats to Taylor Randall, one of the most innovative university leaders in the country and Christopher Koopman on this visionary partnership!

AI is the new battleground for digital freedom. Some states are rushing to regulate, but Montana and New Hampshire are taking a smarter approach: enshrining the “Right to Compute.” Montana’s Right to Compute Act (SB 212) and New Hampshire’s proposed constitutional amendment (CACR 6) would protect individuals’ ability to own and use computational resources—ensuring innovation isn’t throttled by excessive regulation, writes Taylor Barkley. Why this matters: - Over 600 AI-related bills have been introduced in just two months, a regulatory minefield. - Both proposals recognize that access to computing is as fundamental as free speech and property rights. - Montana’s bill applies strict scrutiny to tech regulations, requiring them to be demonstrably necessary for health and safety. - A “human-in-the-loop” safeguard in Montana’s bill ensures AI in critical infrastructure remains under human control—balancing innovation with public safety. Our team has watched over the last few years as AI regulation duplicates existing laws, adding confusion without real benefits. Instead of restricting emerging technologies based on hypothetical risks, Montana and New Hampshire offer a model that protects innovation while addressing genuine harms. As states shape the future of AI policy, they should take note: The right to compute is about more than technology—it’s about preserving the freedom to build.