The public’s blowback to the rise of data centers has been an interesting development. That a nonpartisan uprising has become a national movement bodes well. People are aware that data center development only enriches wealthy corporations at the cost of everybody else. A handful of rich entrepreneurs have a vested interest in them. They believe that unlimited economic growth will continue regardless of earth’s natural limitations and that any material problems such as climate change can be solved by technology. They also say that AI will eventually replace human jobs and possibly make humans obsolete. Well, isn’t that grand?
Tech billionaires buying tropical islands to build their bunker getaways are confident they will safely survive an economic apocalypse. Separating the poor from the masters of the universe may have offsetting effects unforeseen at this point. A systematic collapse of our complex systems could be similar to a loose thread unravelling the entire ball of yarn.
Servicing and supporting the titans of tech in their palatial fortresses while most of us slowly circle the drain is a bad look. Supply-side shortages of labor would decrease if AI took over more facets of life. Causing everyone to lose their jobs is not nice and working-class anger might be problematic.
Why work for the king when basic needs can’t be met?
Horst Holstein, Salt Lake City