New documents from government agencies such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security show that Washington is preparing for widespread anti-A.I. riots, as the technology destroys communities and industries across the country. Ironically, the Trump administration is already using invasive A.I. technology to identify and suppress what it calls anti-A.I. “extremists,” in the process, sweeping the entire nation into its massive surveillance dragnet.
More than 1,000 pages of leaked documents reviewed by WIRED Magazine show that government agencies are anticipating a huge wave of domestic unrest in the coming years, as artificial intelligence upends American society. Automation-related job losses could shatter entire industries, while the building of gigantic data centers will remove water and electricity from public use, ramping up the price of what little remains.
As one report from the New York Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau notes :
“The chaotic atmosphere that may result from emergent A.I. technology in the next five years may fuel large-scale protests that devolve into civil unrest and anti-tech violent extremist activity, especially in large urban areas such as New York City.”
An Environmental and Health Catastrophe
Last year, the tech industry collectively spent around half a trillion dollars on the construction of new data centers. These buildings consume near insatiable amounts of energy and water. By 2030, they are expected to represent around 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption. One large data center consumes up to five million gallons of water per day – as much as a small city. It has been calculated that a single 100-word A.I. prompt to a chatbot like Claude or ChatGPT uses over half a liter of water, equivalent to one bottle.
When a data center moves into town, utility prices skyrocket. In this situation, wholesale electricity, for example, jumps by up to 267%. Ordinary Americans cannot compete with the likes of Amazon or Microsoft, and can be priced out of even the most basic necessities of life, causing widespread resentment.
Living near a data center can also be hazardous to human health. Thanks to the low-frequency noises they produce, residents often report chronic symptoms such as insomnia, vertigo, and nausea. Worse still, to meet their enormous energy demands, data centers often rely on gas or diesel generators, which emit high levels of nitrogen oxides, fine particular matter, and so-called “forever chemicals” into the air, further complicating the situation.
A.I. will also have a profound effect on employment. Goldman Sachs predicts that, over the next decade, 300 million jobs could be lost to A.I.-based automation. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, has suggested that whole industries may be replaced by his product. “Entire classes of jobs will go away and not come back,” he confidently stated in 2019. Facing growing public anger, last month, he walked those statements back, assuring the public that there would be no “jobs apocalypse.”
But if these predictions are anything close to correct, it will cause massive economic disruption across America, and send towns and entire cities dependent on certain types of work into potentially permanent depressions. The latest news that Washington is preparing to treat this unrest as akin to terrorism should be of great concern to all Americans.
The Dark Side of A.I.
The public, as a whole, is highly skeptical of artificial intelligence. A recent poll found that only 5% trust A.I. a great deal, while 77% think it could pose a fundamental threat to humanity.
The U.S. national security state, however, has fully committed to A.I., and is using it to mass surveil the public and to identify those not sufficiently supportive of the new technology. In March, FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau is buying Americans’ personal online user data from brokers in order to track the public. The Department of Homeland Security has spent millions purchasing A.I. software that detects the sentiment and emotions of Americans’ online posts, and is using it to identify activists and other potential “threats.” It has also sent subpoenas to Google, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, and other large social media apps demanding they share the personal information and identities of anonymous users who have criticized the actions of the Trump administration. Government officials confirmed to The New York Times that platforms have often complied with their requests.
A.I. giant Anthropic publicly pulled out of a deal with the U.S. Department of War to develop A.I. systems in “classified environments,” stating that they feared the technology would immediately be used to carry out mass domestic surveillance in the United States. “We cannot in good conscience accede to their request,” they said, explaining their decision. The company was immediately labeled a national security “supply chain risk” by the T…
Read the full article at MintPress News →📄Source document: Axios→9 reports
The Daily WireIndependentLeft2 days agoAn organization called Humans First, which presents itself as a conservative group opposing the expansion of AI data centers, has been revealed to have ties to leftist activists. The group's leader, Amy Kremer, a former Tea Party figure associated with the January 6 events, frames the movement as a grassroots conservative response to perceived elite control by Silicon Valley. However, investigations show that key members of Humans First have backgrounds in leftist activism, including work with the Sunrise Movement, a group known for opposing Trump and advocating for aggressive climate action.
Bias read (Left): The article highlights the leftist origins of key members of Humans First, despite the group's self-presentation as conservative. It emphasizes their connections to progressive movements like the Sunrise Movement and critiques the group's alignment with leftist ideology, suggesting a framing that is
QuartzIndependentCenter4 days agoSeveral startups including Starcloud, Axiom Space, and Lonestar are competing to establish AI data centers in space ahead of larger companies like Google and SpaceX.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses technological competition among private companies without taking a stance on any political issue. It presents facts about startups aiming to develop space-based AI infrastructure without biased language or selective sourcing.
QuartzIndependentCenter4 days ago AI data centers — in spaceThe article discusses growing opposition to large data centers on Earth and highlights companies such as SpaceX and Google investigating the possibility of establishing AI infrastructure in space.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual overview of technological developments without taking a stance or using biased language. It does not favor any particular political perspective.
Breitbart NewsIndependentRight8 days agoA recent study indicates that opponents of AI data center construction have blocked or delayed a record number of projects totaling nearly $130 billion so far this year.
Bias read (Right): The headline uses the term 'opponents' without providing balanced context or explanation for their actions, potentially implying opposition is obstructive rather than legitimate. The framing suggests a focus on economic impact through the lens of potential growth, which aligns with conservative lean
MintPress NewsIndependentLeft10 days agoDocuments obtained by WIRED Magazine reveal that U.S. government agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, are preparing for potential nationwide unrest related to the rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.). The reports suggest that automation-driven job losses and the environmental impact of expanding data center infrastructure could lead to significant social disruption. The text also mentions the Trump administration's use of A.I. for surveillance and suppression of perceived 'anti-A.I. extremists.'
Bias read (Left): The article uses alarmist language ('chaotic atmosphere,' 'civil unrest,' 'anti-tech violent extremist activity') and frames AI development as inherently destructive to communities and jobs. It criticizes the Trump administration’s use of AI for surveillance and presents the government’s preparation
TechCrunchParty-alignedCenter10 days agoThe article discusses the growing interest among major automakers like Tesla, Ford, and General Motors (GM) in the energy storage market. It highlights the increasing demand for large-scale batteries, driven by factors such as the expansion of data centers for AI, electrification across various sectors, and continued growth despite reduced incentives. GM recently introduced a new sodium-ion battery technology targeting this expanding market.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the energy storage market, mentioning multiple companies (Tesla, Ford, GM), industry trends, and quotes from GM executives. There is no evident ideological framing, loaded language, or one-sided sourcing. The focus is on market dynamics rather than policy,
Official sources cited
- organisation Solar Energy Industries Association
- statement Kurt Kelty, Vice President of Battery and Sustainability at GM
SemaforIndependentCenter11 days agoThe article discusses the potential benefits and feasibility of establishing data centers in space.
Bias read (Center): The article does not present any political bias, as it focuses on technological advancements and does not take a stance on political issues.
NBC NewsIndependentCenter15 days agoAt a high-profile Washington AI Honors gala, AI leaders and industry figures gathered to celebrate advancements in artificial intelligence. The event featured prominent attendees such as Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who expressed optimism about AI's future impact on sectors like healthcare, engineering, and security. Despite growing public concern over issues like data centers and chatbots, the tone of the evening was largely positive and forward-looking.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the event without overtly favoring any particular perspective. It includes quotes from Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressing optimism about AI while also acknowledging public concerns. There is no clear ideological slant in the language or framing of报道.
Official sources cited
- government Energy Secretary Chris Wright
MIT Technology ReviewIndependentCenter17 days agoThe article discusses two main topics: the impact of AI-generated lawsuits on the judicial system and a new initiative involving virtual power plants to support data centers. It highlights how AI is increasing the volume of self-filed legal cases but not necessarily improving outcomes, and describes a project where Google is funding a virtual power plant to manage energy demand.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political perspective. It reports on technological developments and legal challenges related to AI without using biased language or selectively presenting viewpoints.
United States