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In the race to build — or stop the construction of — data centers across the country, it’s important to remember no government is spending more on artificial intelligence than America. In fact, according to the Brookings Institute, the number of AI contracts within the federal government has risen from 472 in 2022 to more than 1,700 in 2026.

Most of the spending — $90 billion — is by the Department of Defense, however other departments — Commerce, Health and Human Services, NASA — are spending tens of millions. So regardless of how one may feel about AI, we are all tied to its use.

Site locations and the economic benefits of data centers can be debated, but there’s no getting around the fact that they are the physical embodiment of what AI does. The more computational power a model needs, the more square footage needs to be built.

What makes me most uneasy isn’t the size of the buildings or the energy usage. It’s not knowing whether we’re looking at disruptive technology that will ultimately help all of society, or a disruption that exists mainly to make the richest people on the planet even more money? I wrestle with that question because our history is peppered with examples of the latter.

The world’s first trillionaire, for example, became a household name in part because the demand for electric cars skyrocketed a short time after electric cars all but left the market. Confused? Yeah, me too. General Motors spent years developing its EV1, then abruptly discontinued the model, citing production costs. Was it really that or the oil industry, through lobbyist and campaign donations, undermining the car’s success to protect its own interest? Or was it us, the public, who did not want to change? Who knows for sure?

One thing I do know is that Larry Burns, the former vice president for research and development for General Motors who killed the automaker’s electric car, said if he could turn back time, they would not have stopped investing in the emerging technology.

I’m reminded of those 32 solar panels President Carter had installed on the White House back in 1979. They did not make it past the next administration. Today, China owns more than 80% of the solar market — from every stage of production. The United States didn’t just sacrifice its chance........

© Los Angeles Times