Jonah Goldberg Criticizes 'Moral Panic' Over AI Data Centers, Emphasizes U.S. Leadership in AI
Jonah Goldberg, a senior fellow and Asness Chair in Applied Liberty, has voiced strong criticism against what he describes as a 'moral panic' surrounding the proliferation of AI data centers across the United States. He argues that this widespread concern is disproportionate to the actual issues, drawing parallels to past moral panics over 'Dungeons & Dragons' and comic books. Goldberg highlights that while some concerns about data centers, such as water usage, electricity rates, and aesthetics, are valid, the current level of alarm is being fueled by 'panic-peddlers' who spread extreme and unfounded claims. He cites examples like Steve Bannon's 'War Room' describing data centers as 'weapons labs' and claims about low-frequency vibrations affecting cortisol levels. Goldberg asserts that if the U.S. aims to lead in artificial intelligence, rather than ceding ground to countries like China, the expansion of data centers is a necessary consequence. 
