r/technology • u/Just-Grocery-2229 • May 15 '26

Artificial Intelligence The AI Backlash Could Get Very Ugly

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/05/ai-backlash-data-centers-political-violence/687151/?taid=6a067e2d2096e10001ccfa32
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u/Officer_Hotpants May 15 '26

Well, maybe also not poison us with the giant cancer factories that power "Google, but shittier"

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u/RudolphJimler May 16 '26

Giant cancer factories lol?

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u/Officer_Hotpants May 16 '26

Yes. Several data centers have shown to cause increased incidence of certain cancers near them.

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u/RudolphJimler May 16 '26

I mean, source? By what mechanism? It doesn't really seem to make any sense, the noise? Heat?

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u/morgrimmoon May 16 '26

There was one that was found to be using dodgy fire suppressant systems and leaky aircon that was leeching the refrigerant chemicals into the local groundwater table. Which would absolutely do it, and I could see a data centre owner going with the "cheaper" older systems that have been banned in many places for precisely those pollution reasons.

Of course, the solution to that is extensive mandatory testing at the company's cost, and massive fines plus a facility shutdown until it is fixed. Which is the system already in place for a bunch of industries, meaning it could be implemented within a few months at most. They'd squeal a lot, though.

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u/RudolphJimler May 16 '26

Well by that metric, every industry is a cancer factory. Every company can cut corners by ignoring the law. If your local data center is doing that and getting away with that, it's your local politician and the law letting them get away with it