Artificial intelligence crisis in the USA: “Stop” offer to data centers

The rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies in the USA has brought about a new debate on the political agenda. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez presented the bill called “Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act” to the public. The proposal envisages a temporary halt to the construction of new data centers and capacity increases of existing facilities in the country. This approach was shaped in light of criticism that regulations in the field of artificial intelligence are not advancing at the same pace as technology. In addition, increasing concerns about the economic and social effects of technology are among the factors supporting this initiative.

The main justification of the bill stands out as drawing attention to the pressure that artificial intelligence creates on the labor market and the environment, despite the advantages it offers. In the statement made by Ocasio-Cortez, it was stated that more than 54 thousand job losses occurred due to artificial intelligence in the last year alone. In addition, it was emphasized that these losses create not only individual employment problems, but also chain effects on communities and local economies. In addition, the rapid development of deepfake technologies is considered as a factor that makes it more difficult to distinguish right from wrong in the digital environment. On the other hand, the proliferation of artificial intelligence-supported surveillance systems poses new risks to individual freedoms and privacy.

Comprehensive regulatory target for AI data centers

The proposed regulation is not limited to just stopping construction activities; It also requires artificial intelligence products to meet certain criteria. Accordingly, these technologies need to be proven to be safe not only in terms of physical security, but also in areas such as civil rights, data privacy and public health. In addition, it is stated that the economic value created by artificial intelligence should be spread to a wider segment. Nevertheless, in the current picture, criticisms stand out that big technology companies get the biggest share of this profit.

In addition, the environmental impacts of data centers are also discussed in detail within the scope of the proposal. It is stated that citizens should not increase their electricity and other service bills due to the energy consumption of new facilities. Despite this, the high energy needs of existing data centers have put pressure on the electrical infrastructure, especially in some states of the USA. In addition, the requirement that the facilities to be established create unionized employment supported by strong labor rights also draws attention. It is planned to give local communities the authority to approve or reject data center projects.

When evaluated from a political perspective, the possibility of the proposal becoming law in the short term seems limited. Although public opinion polls show that a significant portion of Americans support artificial intelligence regulations, the high spending of technology companies on political campaigns draws attention. In addition, the effectiveness of anti-regulatory approaches in the current management structure creates an obstacle to such initiatives. Nevertheless, the new political balances that may occur after the 2026 midterm elections may be decisive for the future of these and similar regulations.