PHIL BAKER NYA
Big Tech executives seem puzzled by the growing backlash against data centers. Across the country, citizens are organizing against them. Politicians who championed data center developments have been voted out of office. Industry leaders often respond by pointing to the jobs created during construction, the tax revenue generated, and the importance of artificial intelligence to America’s future.
What they seem unable to understand is that many residents see a very different picture.
The technology industry has been telling Americans that artificial intelligence will cost millions of jobs – some tech executives even predict most jobs. Every week seems to bring a new prediction about millions of jobs that could eventually disappear or be fundamentally altered by AI.
Then these same tech executives expect to get approval for massive data centers and some even ask the local communities to subsidize their construction. Residents are asked to accept enormous buildings, increased electricity demand, new water consumption, noise from cooling systems, transmission lines, and changes to the character of their communities. They are being asked to make these sacrifices are also hearing that the technology inside those buildings will likely threaten their livelihood.
The industry’s arrogance and even stupidity is remarkable. Why would citizens support facilities that they believe are being built to take away their jobs?
Historically, communities welcomed factories, shopping centers, and office parks because they brought jobs. The community accepted growth and development in exchange for economic opportunity. AI data centers are very different. They require relatively few employees once construction is complete and they exist to eliminate jobs.
Big tech is supposed to be smart, but when it comes to data centers they’re not too bright..