Such a person is like a good mechanic, or a good doctor—they don’t exactly grow on trees and one hopes they’ll be around for a while.
I’m talking about someone who tells the truth, who’s capable and reasonable and trustworthy.
One minute, for example, AI is amazing and the wave of the future. But now it’s the villain, frightening, apparently out of control already. And the brains behind it are portrayed as self-interested ogres willing to sell their souls for a hook, line, and sinker buy-in and silk glove treatment from Congress.
Not long ago in our neck of the woods, several families realized an influx of life-changing cash because they sold their property for data center construction. I imagine it being a case of taking the money and running, but I wonder if they have any regrets or give any thought to the transaction at this point—what they’ve wrought by having a hand in facilitating what once was a godsend but is now more of a boondoggle.
Our Governor here in PA has even changed his tune– since earlier this year!
Who do we believe regarding these data centers? Are they all for AI, or are they also being built to handle existing and future demand for streaming services and YouTube and cloud storage and internet capacity in general?
Who do we believe?! The ones who are warning about Big Brother, the ones who have nothing good to say about the demands of these facilities in terms of water and electricity use and the effect they will have on our own electric bills and opportunities for employment? Or the ones who tell us to calm down, not to worry, that there’s a lot of misinformation out there?
It’s getting more difficult to tell the difference between good and bad information. And that’s a lousy place to be.
3 Cents' 