Bernie Sanders and AOC propose a ban on data center construction

In response to the rapid proliferation of data centers across the United States, two prominent political figures are advocating for a halt on new constructions that exceed a power load of 20 megawatts. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York are set to introduce matching legislation in their respective chambers aimed at pausing these developments until comprehensive regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) are established by Congress. The urgency for such measures is underscored by comments from notable tech leaders who have expressed serious concerns about the implications of AI technology. Among them is Elon Musk, who has characterized AI as "far more dangerous than nukes" and questioned the lack of regulatory oversight. Other voices include Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, Dario Amodei of Anthropic, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, all echoing similar sentiments about the need for stricter controls on AI advancements. A recent survey by Pew Research indicates that a significant portion of the American public shares these concerns. More than half of respondents expressed apprehension regarding AI, with only 10% indicating that their excitement outweighed their worries. However, the challenge remains as AI companies engage in substantial political spending, and fears surrounding a competitive AI landscape with nations like China complicate the likelihood of passing such legislation. The proposed bill could serve as a foundational step towards defining AI regulations. The lawmakers are calling for the U.S. government to implement a review and certification process for AI models prior to their deployment. They also aim to introduce safeguards against job displacement resulting from AI technologies, mitigate the environmental impact of data infrastructures, and ensure the use of union labor in their construction. Additionally, the legislation would seek to ban the export of advanced chips to countries lacking equivalent regulatory frameworks, a category that encompasses a vast majority of nations today.