Midland, Texas, Group Seeks Ways to Regulate City AI Use

(TNS) — A new group has formed in Midland to raise concerns about the use of artificial intelligence at the local level.

Founded by Eliel Rosa of Nehemiah220 Ministries, the group, titled "Midland of Tomorrow," consists of prominent figures from across Midland with the ultimate goal of finding ways to regulate AI use in the city and highlight its negative effects around the world. The effort comes in the wake of the AI data center approved for Midland, as well as national developments including AI's use in war and recent comments from tech figures such as Elon Musk.

"This is going to impact a lot," Rosa said. "44% of pastors right now in America are using AI to prepare their sermons. Teachers (are) using AI to provide assignments to students, (then) students use AI to respond to the assignments (and then) teachers use AI to grade the assignments. This is a change, this is a turning point."

At the beginning of the meeting, Rosa shared two videos, one about his ideal city, Curitiba in his native Brazil, and its use of AI, and another promotional video by AI company Anthropic PBC. Each person was then given a chance to share general views and personal experiences with AI. Eight people were invited to join the group, though some were unable to attend the initial meeting.

HERMANN EBEN

Eben, the owner and managing partner of GR8 Solutions Group, was invited to discuss the engineering perspective and how AI is affecting it. He admitted to using AI for some of his side writing projects, but acknowledged that this is limiting because of the nature of AI.
"When you have AI, you actually interfere with peer accountability, and peer accountability is absolutely essential in an environment where a culture (or) society can govern itself, because self-governance is the most important thing in any government or organization," Eben said. "If it were possible to build those transcendent (humanistic) values into AI, it would make all the difference in the world, but unfortunately (unlike humans) it is morally neutral."

JOHN BOHACEK

Bohacek, a pastor at Harvest Time Church, was brought on to evaluate the spiritual ramifications of AI. Bohacek framed AI as part of a spiritual battle between light and darkness and said it is an "enemy" humanity must overcome.

"In the Garden (of Eden), it was conversations with a snake, and I believe that's what is happening in this situation," Bohacek said. "Ultimately, 'the darkness' is going to try and get (us) off-track somehow. A lot of answers that you get (from AI) are very good and plausible, but that doesn't mean that they're always the truth. I believe that churches need to come together (against this)."

STEVEN SIERRA ALCABES

Alcabes, the process engineer officer for the city of Midland, was brought on to share his perspective on AI from an IT and City Hall standpoint. Although unable to attend, he provided a written statement, which Rosa read to the group.

"My personal take on what can be done to ensure the integrity of what we call our 'humanity' is to push for more real human connections," Alcabes said in the statement. "The quality in the real and human connections that we build will make the difference between checking off boxes versus trust that can't be faked."

CRYSTAL VELASQUEZ

Velasquez, the executive director of digital transformation at Midland College, was brought on to share her perspective on how AI has been impacting students and education. She said students have already formed "pockets" of AI users, and that to counter this, Midland College has created an AI committee to learn more about both using and combating AI on campus.

"With this many people (on campus), we can't keep track necessarily of who's doing what and how," Velasquez said. "So, we're trying to get together and start learning and get some best practices established. I would say we're very early in the process."

JOHN BURKHOLDER

Burkholder, a Midland city councilman-at-large, was brought on to share a governmental perspective on AI. He described the adverse societal, economic and mental health effects he believes AI has had on the world, which he does not anticipate improving.

"I imagine that they will (monetize AI), and (then) it no longer becomes about universal income and peace and harmony, it becomes about profiteering," Burkholder said. "I feel that there has to be serious conversations and guidelines to minimize that or keep that from happening."

In the future, Rosa hopes to expand Midland of Tomorrow's examination of AI by hosting on-the-street interviews with Midlanders. He is also planning a town hall in May to allow people to express their own concerns and ask their own questions.

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