Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, April 27, 2026
OPINION READERS WRITE
Public protection from AI and data centers doubtful In response to questions about “Who wields power” on datacenters, consider findings of a recent Stanford University report, the 2026 AI Index. First, the U.S. has ten times more datacenters than any other nation on earth, and among forty-odd countries whose citizens were surveyed, Americans have the least confidence in their government’s ability to regulate AI and datacenters. Although there are many other examples, datacenter decisions epitomize the escalating predicament of concentrated power that is generated by corporate oligarchy. Intertwined datacenter and AI issues are perhaps more extreme in the imbalance of control due to the powerful role of high-technology in these ventures. A handful of Silicon Valley tech-bros dominate an AI portfolio valued in the trillions of dollars. Last year, investment in these technologies in the US alone was between $450 and $500 billion. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI are the major players. Their relationships with the Trump administration raise disturbing doubts about the stability of democratic institutions and protecting the public interest against the dystopian application of autonomous algorithms. These include both violation of civil rights through citizen surveillance and the destructive use of lethal weapons in pursuit of corporate goals portrayed as national security. David Kyler Center for a Sustainable Coast Saint Simons Island