Tech tries a new message: You'd love data centers if China wasn't making you hate data centers
There are lots of reasons Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers. But for some tech types, it's just easier to blame China.
A growing number of Americans are expressing opposition to data centers, leading some tech leaders to believe that Chinese manipulation may be the cause. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the anti-data center sentiment has gained traction on certain corners of the pro-AI internet. One theory suggests that China aims to sway public opinion against AI data centers, causing the United States to fall behind China in the AI race.
This alleged psychological operation, known as a "psyop," allegedly involves the use of Chinese-linked accounts to generate anti-AI content on social media platforms. However, OpenAI's June report indicated that there was no evidence of such efforts influencing public opinion. The shrinking trust and safety teams on major social media platforms, coupled with their increased investment in AI projects, may have facilitated the spread of such misinformation.
As a result, influential figures within the tech industry are seeking a better message and messenger, blaming their own communication strategies rather than acknowledging the root cause of the opposition.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
