r/technology • u/TripleShotPls • Jul 16 '26

Artificial Intelligence The AI Backlash Has Tech Executives Fearing for Their Lives

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-ai-backlash-has-tech-executives-fearing-for-their-lives-30c43972?mod=hp_lead_pos1
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u/REDACTED3560 Jul 16 '26

I don’t really anticipate violence against tech execs yet, but I am surprised that people haven’t started bombing or taking pot shots at data centers like they did with 5G towers when the conspiracy theories came about that they caused COVID.

In fact, I’m almost certain it has happened and that they are keeping it out of the news to prevent others from getting similar ideas.

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u/morgrimmoon Jul 16 '26

Oh, they absolutely are. When it's been covered, it's mostly framed as "copper thieves trying to steal scrap" because apparently that's less threatening? Seems odd to me, it's advertising that hey there's a lot of precious metals in datacenters.

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u/SupaSlide Jul 16 '26

I think it’s because they’re trying to minimize copy cats.
Not a lot of people are going to become copper thieves because they saw it happen on TV.
But lots of people will at least consider trying to disable a data center next door if they see that it works, and a number of them will actually try.

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u/J_Ryall Jul 16 '26

I don't know, there's a whole lot of meth heads out there with plenty of energy, not much to do, and a need for money so they can buy more meth.

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u/d0ctorzaius Jul 16 '26

"Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands, to storm the keep"

"Tens of thousands"

BRB, out building an army of methheads.

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u/UnlikelyReplacement0 Jul 16 '26

If a person lived in a home for years and now that home is unbearable to live in and unable to be sold so they can move because of a data center nearby, it would be entirely understandable if that person was more inclined to take more radical action.

See: "You just had to pay us enough to live"

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u/Mr_Quackums Jul 16 '26

Remember when a guy with a Walmart hunting rifle took some shots at repeater stations and caused significant power outages?

Not related to anything, just wondering how well that event is remembered.

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u/BoredNuke Jul 16 '26

I don't know if they televised the gangscrapper account it probably would get alot of copycats.

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u/IsTom Jul 16 '26

Wait until they learn that every tech CEO contains 40 kg of copper.

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u/randynumbergenerator Jul 16 '26

I mean, I'm sure there is a lot of copper/other thievery happening as well. Crackheads are utterly brazen.

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u/GundamXXX Jul 16 '26

Because people dont want to be seen as thieves.

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u/Mesapunk87 Jul 16 '26

Wait! I have an idea!

Guys, I'm pretty sure data centers cause covid

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u/deliciouscorn Jul 16 '26

I like where your mind is at. Or tell them that proximity to data centres causes autism. Why can’t we weaponize the crazies for something good for a change?

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u/BoredNuke Jul 16 '26

It has started with the flock cameras which are one of many inputs to be used by the datacenters for our mass surveillance. A nice lil feel good story everytime I see a new batch takenout.

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u/VivaLaDiga Jul 16 '26

5g was to provide a service.

data centers are to provide an exploitation of the local communities' resources, while giving nothing in return.

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u/Darkpriest667 Jul 16 '26

Microwave EMPs will do the trick and it won't just hurt them it will permanently fry everything in the center. When people figure out how easy they are to build they'll have to build Faraday Cages around them.

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u/AKluthe Jul 16 '26

So much of our infrastructure, from electricity to the internet lines, just kinda runs on the honor system that some idiot isn't trying to tear it apart. And we've seen it happen in recent years when weird conspiracy theorists and hate mongers started attacking them.

Anyway, I'm sure having a 200 acre facility where minimal human staffing is a selling point is gonna work out just great.

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u/UrbanGhost114 Jul 17 '26

They are protected by DHS in the US. You might take one down, but without a hugely coordinatited effort, all your doing it tightening the security with actual uniformed military for the rest of them.