# industrial policy

Technology's center of gravity is shifting as defense procurement pulls in civilian manufacturers, thousands of CEOs report no AI productivity or employment gains, and operating system mandates would expand age verification and data sharing. The convergence shows how corporate agendas are shaping public policy and consumer protections, with immediate consequences for data rights, labor markets, and the value of credentials.

Digital trust is becoming a paid feature as biometric checks proliferate, privacy shifts into premium tiers, and ad-supported AI expands. Simultaneously, an infrastructure race is accelerating, with ultrafast EV charging and record renewable output testing whether democratic guardrails can keep up.

Warning labels without economic leverage are unlikely to curb engagement junk. Sliding EV sales and China's green industrial scaling reveal competitive urgency, while a looming memory shortage is set to raise device costs and slow AI adoption. With identity controls tightening and state crackdowns backfiring, users face higher exposure and fewer reliable safeguards.