Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, April 27, 2026
OPINION
READERS WRITE
Public protection from AI and data centers doubtful
In response to questions about “Who wields power” on
datacenters, consider findings of a recent Stanford
University report, the 2026 AI Index. First, the U.S. has ten
times more datacenters than any other nation on earth, and
among forty-odd countries whose citizens were surveyed,
Americans have the least confidence in their government’s
ability to regulate AI and datacenters.
Although there are many other examples, datacenter
decisions epitomize the escalating predicament of
concentrated power that is generated by corporate
oligarchy. Intertwined datacenter and AI issues are perhaps
more extreme in the imbalance of control due to the
powerful role of high-technology in these ventures. A
handful of Silicon Valley tech-bros dominate an AI
portfolio valued in the trillions of dollars. Last year,
investment in these technologies in the US alone was
between $450 and $500 billion. Amazon, Google, Meta,
Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI are the major players.
Their relationships with the Trump administration raise
disturbing doubts about the stability of democratic
institutions and protecting the public interest against the
dystopian application of autonomous algorithms. These
include both violation of civil rights through citizen
surveillance and the destructive use of lethal weapons in
pursuit of corporate goals portrayed as national security.
David Kyler
Center for a Sustainable Coast
Saint Simons Island