NPR · 5 Sep, 09:00 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Voters are fed up with data centers. Both parties are trying to cash in for midterms

Recent reports indicate growing public frustration with the rapid expansion of data centres, particularly regarding their substantial energy and water consumption.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

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Recent reports indicate growing public frustration with the rapid expansion of data centres, particularly regarding their substantial energy and water consumption. This sentiment is now influencing political discourse ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, with candidates from both major parties attempting to address these concerns to secure voter support. The narrative highlights a critical tension between technological infrastructure demands and community resources, suggesting that regulatory scrutiny and public policy regarding data centre operations may intensify significantly in the near future.

Employer demand for AI in Energy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

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