New York state has hit pause on new A.I. data center development, and Liz Peek told FOX Business’ The Bottom Line the move is less about protecting communities than it is about politics.
“Let’s put this in context. There are only 3,000 or 4,000 data centers in America. There are only about 1,500 under construction right now,” Peek said. “So the reality is we don’t need New York. There are plenty of places that are welcoming this kind of work.”
Peek pointed to the trades unions pushing for the projects to move forward and to a shortage of the skilled labor needed to build them. “You have a tremendous shortage of welders and electricians,” she said, noting that Apple and other companies have begun creating institutes to train those workers. “We have lots of philosophy majors and not so many people who can do welding.”
The result, she argued, will be another round of red states gaining what blue states turn away. “Red states do well, blue states don’t, because they’re kind of erecting these barriers. And I think it’s really stupid. Upstate New York needs jobs. Unemployment’s high in this state,” Peek said. “This is just sort of another virtue signaling move by the left. I understand a lot of Americans are worried about data centers, but I think this has been grossly exaggerated for political purposes.”
Asked about Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar urging Democrats to become “A.I. populists,” Peek faulted the industry itself for losing the argument. “These brainiacs in charge of this industry have done a miserable job of explaining to the American public what the advantages are of the growth of A.I. And there are many,” she said, citing breakthroughs already underway in treating cancer and other diseases. “Why aren’t they out there talking about that? They’ve allowed this populist left message to really gain traction about the dangers of A.I.”
Peek said the crusade would backfire on Democrats as Americans discover the technology for themselves. “Most people are using A.I. now — the advantages of it, how it makes people more productive instead of actually throwing them off the job,” she said. “I think it’s very bad for America. And I think it’s actually very bad for the Democratic Party.”
Source: foxbusiness.com
