Astra Taylor warns that the rush to build AI data centers is not just a tech story but a democracy story. Communities are being asked to surrender land, water, and electricity so billionaire tech firms can scale products few people voted for and even fewer understand.
These facilities consume staggering energy and water, often in drought-prone regions, while residents face rising utility bills and strained grids. Local voices are sidelined as deals are cut behind closed doors, dressed up as “innovation” and “jobs.”
This is not anti-technology. It is pro-accountability. If AI is the future, the public deserves a say in where it is built, how it is powered, and who truly benefits. Otherwise, we are subsidizing a private empire with public resources.
Before another data center breaks ground, communities should demand transparency, environmental review, and democratic consent. The question is simple: who pays, and who profits?
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