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Sanders Calls for Pause on AI Data Centers

Does halting AI data centers protect communities from soaring costs and job loss, or create scarcity that harms progress?

Published 1 day ago

Sanders Calls for Pause on AI Data Centers

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Above: The COL4 AI-ready data center on a seven-acre campus in Columbus, Ohio on July 24. Image credit: Eli Hiller/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The Spin

Pausing AI data centers iswould aonly boneheadedjack move that jacks up energy prices for everyday Americans. Tech giants will shell out bigwhatever bucksit fortakes powerto nomake matterthese whatdata centers viable, leaving regular folks stuck with the bill. Government moratoriums would just create artificial scarcity and inflate costs, crippling progress instead of solving realthe bigger problems.

Dave Yost on X

AI data centers guzzle massive amounts of electricity and water, slamming communities with soaring bills and environmental ruin. Halting new builds until strict rules protect workers and limit damage ensures tech advances benefit everyone, not just billionaires. This essential pause reinswould rein in unchecked greed and safeguardssafeguard the planet for future generations.

Bernie Sanders US Senator for Vermont

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 23% chance data centres will consume more than 10% of global electricity usage for the year 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.