Grassroots Movement Opposes AI Expansion Across United States
Activists in 24 states are organizing to block data center construction and regulate artificial intelligence to protect human rights and education.
A growing grassroots movement across the United States is organizing against the expansion of artificial intelligence and the influence of major technology corporations. At least 142 groups across 24 states are currently working to block the construction of data centers, while other activists target the use of Flock surveillance cameras and the integration of AI in schools. In New York City, officials banned AI use for students through eighth grade.
New organizations have emerged to address specific technological concerns. Mothers Against Media Addiction (Mama) focuses on children's media addiction, the Association for Human Mathematics (AHM) seeks to protect mathematics as a human endeavor, and Irreplaceable.org advocates for AI regulation to protect human rights and income. In San Francisco, over 1,000 protesters marched in September to demand that hospitals sever ties with Palantir due to patient confidentiality and surveillance concerns.
These public protests coincide with internal instability at leading AI firms. Safety employees have departed from both OpenAI and Anthropic, the latter of which acknowledged in IPO documents that its models could pose existential risks to humanity. Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, responded to the tension by suggesting that the world should accept some negative outcomes for the benefits of the technology. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats are increasing pressure for formal tech industry regulation.
