He says utilities …. not sure my state will have any water left at the rate they’re being built here. We’re in yet another drought with record high temps and our electric grid has proven to not be reliable. After they suck us dry, they’ll move on to other states and make sure they can’t be told ”no”.

I was recently reading about AI companies ordering books, including rare ones, to scan for information before destroying.

It’s about making money by controlling information and thinking. He even alludes to ”rich people“ being able to buy more information in certain scenarios. I grouse about ads on search engines, news sites, etc, but will take that over someone having complete and specific control over what I can see, and at various price points.

Humans and every living thing cannot survive without water and with the climate changing, heat will be/is a huge issue around the world. We really can live without ai and,amazingly (!), without these billionaire venture capitalists. IMO

I think I should try taking a break from all my devices. Not sure if I could, but I might enjoy the important things in life more without them.

Good point, Amy.

(Happy to see you!)

Jilly and other Texas residents, very very sorry for your discomfort but maybe we need big red states to get upset enough about data centers and other issues to hold politicians accountable.

We’re trying, Lisa. Lots more I’d like to say, but I’d like to not get the whole thread flagged.

Look up Fort Worth (Tarrant County) leaders closing polling locations for just one example of many to see what’s happening.

Anti-data center sentiment is strongly bi-partisan across our state and people from both sides of the aisle are protesting them in countless and exhausting ways. What I mentioned directly above is how they’re responding.

There was a technology summit near here last week related to the G20 for international finance ministers in Asheville. Altman was there as were others.

It basically sounds like it was a bunch of rich guys going back and forth between strutting and patting each other on the back. Nobody there seemed to have much to say about the impact to the 99%.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/02/g20-innovation-ministerial-live-updates.html

What you need to know:

Lutnick continues to put pressure on communities to welcome AI data centers

Palantir’s Karp says wealth inequality is a “real issue for our societies”

OpenAI CEO Altman says the use of AI is “non-negotiable”

Anthropic co-founder praises T stance on AI data centers

Leaders respond to growing backlash on AI data center buildout

Jensen Huang calls AI the “great equalizer” that will democratize intelligence

Lutnick says semiconductor tariffs are coming and the companies know it

Bessent says companies have done a ‘horrendous job’ explaining benefits of AI, data centers

I posted my comment a while ago and just realized it was hidden. I had to edit a blurb that contained a name of a politician. Must be a leftover moderation thing from the old HT days :)

Thanks, dee.

From your link:

”Lutnick said that data centers will “bring prosperity” to the communities where they are built, and blamed their unpopularity on unspecified U.S. adversaries.

“They’re just getting a bad rap because our adversaries are trying to slow us down,” Lutnick said at a press conference.

Lutnick also pushed back on concerns that data centers use massive amounts of water by noting that almonds and cattle are among the top water-using industries.

“They’re not going to raise the cost of power in that community. They’re going to bring down the cost of power in that community, and they’re going to bring, because they’re going to create tremendous tax revenue,” Lutnick claimed. “They’re going to bring prosperity to those communities.”

What I’d really like to say in response to this pile of …. I’d get banned from this board.

I’d be glad to show him a comparison of my utility bills for the past few years. I’d love for him to explain exactly how they benefit the communities - I’m sure Abilene, Tx, among other towns, would like to hear that as well (see: housing crisis). I’d love for him to post the countless scientific studies on water usage, not his opinion or propaganda or the closed loop BS being touted as what they all do or might do or could do or come on, just believe us. I’d also be interested in hearing about tax revenue … so far, they’ve been given billions in tax BREAKS, and no one I know has seen their property taxes lowered. They just go up and up.

Oh, and ”unspecified” adversaries. Here we go again with that ridiculous trope meant to fearmonger and divide everyone while they count their billions and laugh at just how easy it was.

Wow. There might be steam coming from my ears right now.

Edit: Let’s start putting data centers next to their neighborhoods.

Another edit: Let’s not forget how much warming these centers cause, as well as the noise and light pollution 24/7. All to control us for profit. They’re not even hiding it anymore.

It would help to look all side of this data center hoax that is just trying to scare people. And this goes for some Republicans also, who need to be educated about it. Data centers are compute factories. If we don’t build them here...someone else will.

Regarding water-if you want to compare...nationally, almonds and cattle use far more than data-center cooling. Local drought sites still need tight permits. Newer plants use air cooling, closed loops, and recycled water.

Regarding power-bills are up for many reasons for instance like fuel, transmission, delayed generation-not just data centers. Studies are mixed. People need to know...the right rule is simple-they bring (or pay for) their own power and can lower local costs if surplus hits the grid.

Regarding taxes-yes, they get breaks. They also pay huge equipment taxes in places like Loudoun County, VA, which cut residential property taxes for a decade. Bad local deals do exist though. So, fix the deals.

It looks like Abilene’s housing crunch is a construction boom hitting a tight market. That’s a housing-supply problem...not proof the project has a zero upside. Blaming “unspecified adversaries” for every protest is sloppy. And, of course noise, heat, and lights are real if you set a 24/7 plant next to homes. But, that’s just zoning, not a conspiracy. Demand they pay their way and I think people are coming around to seeing what is really happening...and the facts, especially about the new plants. Don’t pretend the infrastructure is optional.

Data centers make a lot of money. That does not automatically mean your town gets richer. It depends on the deal. They need to pay for the power and water they use. They need to pay real taxes on the land and the servers. They need to help pay for roads and housing. Or did the city give them huge tax breaks just to get the project? For the country...building these matters. For a town, the benefits only show up if leaders negotiate a good deal. Counties are really going to have to get smart...and fast. Because some really should take advantage of them.

I listen to the "All-In Podcast" and have learned so much from these guys. Especially about AI and Data Centers etc. I am trying to be more forward-thinking, dare I say "progressive" about our future, because at this point, all this AI stuff is here to stay.

I see a future where someone owns the potable water supply and controls the world.

Someone has started using AI to compose their posts, I do believe.

OllieJane, everything you stated in your post is nearly word for word what I’ve heard from the data center companies at the many meetings I’ve attended. And the podcast you mention has been brought up behind the scenes, as they’re known to be 100% pro data center.

I know there’s no point in me going over your post point by point (and disputing with facts as they’ve occurred, and are occurring, in my area and in other areas of Texas). I’m not saying/meaning that in a rude way, nor am I claiming to be an expert. But I do wonder if you listened to the video I posted.

[Edited to clarify a sentence.]