Kansas should demand fair compensation from AI data centers, not offer subsidies
By
Richard Pund
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Summary
Former Kansas state Rep. Jan Kessinger wrote in favor of welcoming AI data centers to Kansas, but the author disagrees, arguing that such rhetoric signals developers are seeking public subsidies. The author points to Beale Infrastructure's withdrawal of a proposed data center in Gardner as evidence that these companies will keep searching for government handouts. The piece argues that AI data center development primarily benefits tech billionaires rather than the broader public, and calls for different policies to ensure the wealth generated by AI is more equitably distributed.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWhen I see rhetoric about welcoming a new development with open arms, I take that to mean the developer is looking for public money of some kind.
These companies will just keep looking until they find a handout.
If we want AI to benefit all of us and not just the tech billionaires, then we need different policies to spread the wealth.
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