A major part of the anti-social aspect of the AI hype is that it is profoundly anti-democratic. Resource consumption—power, land, water—-are discussed as if we

A major part of the anti-social aspect of the AI hype is that it is profoundly anti-democratic. Resource consumption—power, land, water—-are discussed as if we weren’t in the midst of a climate emergency that affects us all, nor are competing needs for those resources ever considered. The financing of those data centers is starting to look a lot like the derivative mess of ‘08. Companies are counting on receiving unwitting subsidies from regular power users. Etc. (Here in West Virginia, for example, we have lost our democratic right to regulate how local lands are used, so that we’re now powerless to stop land and water theft.) And if we ever dare to change this discourse we are told how important it is to “win the AI race with China!”, as if this were some real existential threat. Meanwhile we’re expected to adopt a tech that, they tell us, will replace us. What’s not to like? /s