Paris Marx’s new book examines the growing power and resource demands of Big Tech’s data centers, as well as the communities and movements opposing them. It traces conflicts from anti-war protests targeting American computers during the Vietnam War to recent protests in Ireland and Chile, while considering an alternative vision for data centers in New Zealand. Marx spoke about the book’s origins, the effects of artificial intelligence, and what could happen if the AI bubble bursts.
“I never expected everything to go horribly wrong when my book was published,” he says with a laugh.
Data centers have become part of debates over U.S. elections. They are also a point of contention that could help decide the outcome of a crucial midterm election in less than two weeks. The disputes are part of a longer history of resistance to the technology industry’s pursuit of power.
Marx, a longtime critic of Big Tech, has discussed data centers for years on his podcast. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Why write about data centers?
Molly Taft: When did you decide to write a book about data centers?
Paris Marx: The Netherlands and Singapore had imposed suspensions dating back to 2019. By 2022, there was growing recognition of the demands data centers were placing on Ireland, particularly its energy grid. Data centers had begun consuming a huge amount of power.
Another story that caught my attention was what happened at Google in The Dalles, Oregon. Google tried to conceal its water-use figures, and city councils also attempted to keep the numbers secret. This continued for the better part of a year, until the community finally obtained reliable figures. It found that Google was using 29 percent of the community’s water.
ChatGPT arrived at the end of 2022. It soon became clear that generative AI would require more data centers. The effects of large-scale data-center construction were already being felt in these communities, and it seemed likely that many more would soon face similar pressures.
Source: www.wired.com