I was employed in the computer technology and software industry for 45 years. There have been those who feared doom from high tech sources for decades. Remember Y2K? Doom would be fall us if we didn’t change all the critical systems in the world in time. The world would cease to function! It was largely bunk.
The potential for good from AI is beyond imagination. It is already saving lives with an infinitesimal amount of its potential in the medical field alone. It is already extending the ability of existing medical professionals to do more each day.
There are massively more potential benefits than can reasonably be described here. But none more important than protecting the United States from foreign adversaries.
With any new technology there is the potential for harm. We need to have some faith in government and industry leaders to act in advance of significant harm. But to blindly, emotionally shut down data center and AI development is tying the United States hands and putting us in harm’s way to a far greater extent than energy and water use could possibly exact. Reasonable government leadership can work with industry leaders to ensure their energy and resources requirements are produced by the industry in a responsible way. These blanket bans are driven by fear and lack of knowledge. The state and local governments who collaborate with industry and demand they meet certain standards will be far more effective for all. Especially taxpayers when industry is led to reasonable agreement.
