James Talarico Blasts Ken Paxton for 'Made With AI' Texas Data Center Plan
Data centers have become a central issue in the battle for the Senate in the Lone Star State.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has criticized Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for allegedly using artificial intelligence to generate a plan for data center development if he wins the November election. Data centers have become a political issue as concerns grow over their effects on local communities, such as strain on water and power supplies.
Opposition to data centers has come from both parties in response to potential issues including energy demand and water consumption. Paxton shared a plan on X, which led to accusations that he used AI to create it. Talarico's campaign responded by stating that Paxton had failed to address voters' demands, and accused him of being corrupt due to receiving nearly half a million dollars from the data center industry and giving billions in tax breaks to the industry.
Paxton's plan includes federal legislation to prevent the use of Chinese technology in American data centers and hold operators criminally liable if their AI systems endanger children's safety. It also proposes a deregulatory approach and streamlining permits for data centers. Critics argue that these measures are contradictory as they don't address the concerns of communities and the environment.
The debate surrounding data centers is becoming increasingly contentious, with both parties offering different solutions to address the rapid growth of the industry.
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