New Plushie Aims to Highlight Data Center Noise Pollution and Environmental Impact
A New York-based creative studio, Basura, in collaboration with the musical project Big Data, has launched a satirical plush toy named Bezzy. This plushie, designed to resemble a server rack, is part of a project called 'Adopt a Data Center.' When squeezed, Bezzy emits a piercing screech, which is a recording of the actual ambient noise from a data center in Virginia. The initiative aims to draw attention to the environmental and noise pollution issues associated with the proliferation of data centers across the U.S. These facilities, built to power increasingly energy-intensive AI tools, have faced criticism for their significant energy consumption, reliance on gas power, and the audible disturbances they create for nearby residents. The project also includes a collection of stickers with slogans like 'Every data center deserves a forever home' and 'Open your heart. And your power grid,' reflecting the sentiments gathered from interviews with people living near data centers.
