jasmine sun
@jasminewsun
anthropologist of disruption ✰ contributor @theatlantic ✰ newsletter
1.3K Following 24.5K Followers
we're going to see a growing gap in the politics/policy of data centers
e.g. Shapiro has to use combative rhetoric to meet the moment — but he's not doing a moratorium or banning subsidies. his standards are comparatively chill
it's a sign that it's politically toxic to seem "soft on AI"
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The data center backlash is a product of two mutually reinforcing dynamics:
1) Locally, it's material concerns (noise, water, electricity) and process failure (NDAs, tax subsidies)
2) Nationally, it's broad anti-corporate and anti-AI sentiment (AI companies are screwing you over to get rich off dumb toys)
Social media + political campaigns amplify hyperlocal grievances into a broad populist movement, and there's no compelling "pro data center faction" to make the opposite case
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