Protestors Ransack AI Lab, Leave Graffiti Calling on Masses to “Burn the Data Centers”
"The windows of the building were smashed and numerous graffiti tags were sprayed on the walls." The post Protestors Ransack AI Lab, Leave Graffiti Calling on Masses to “Burn the Data Centers” appeared first on Futurism .
Growing concerns over the potential consequences of artificial intelligence have led some individuals to take matters into their own hands. Earlier this week, offices of two Canadian AI labs were targeted by what police describe as an organized group of vandals. According to the CBC, a building belonging to Quebec’s Artificial Intelligence Institute (MILA) in Montreal was extensively damaged.
Its windows were shattered and its walls were covered in anti-AI graffiti. Another nearby building, belonging to an unnamed AI company, also suffered vandalism. Photographs shared by the CBC depict spray-painted tags on the building, one of which reads "burn the data centers."
Preliminary investigations suggest that around 10 individuals were responsible for the crimes, according to Manual Couture, a spokesperson for Montreal police. A 25-year-old woman found near the scene was questioned but later released without conditions.
The incident reflects the mounting backlash against AI and the data centers that support its development. Numerous arrests have been made in the United States as protesters challenge AI initiatives and defy municipal leaders during local meetings. The escalating sentiment towards AI data center development in the US alone poses a threat to an estimated $130 billion in investments as of mid-August.
The Montreal vandalism serves as a microcosm of this broader anti-AI sentiment, demonstrating that if individuals feel ignored by their elected officials, they are not hesitant to take action themselves.
Written by urgent.news from Futurism's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
