After pushing overdue automation AFTER laying off the people to implement it, now they want to add AI to the mess. Trump Signs AI Executive Order Asking Companies to Give Government Early Access to Models
Why build data centers with so many abandoned factories perfect for the job?
Funny, there seems to be a push to build data centers when the federal government has identified 335 specific, large-scale brownfields and Superfund sites that are ideal candidates for retrofitting into sprawling AI and data center campuses. And the U.S. has over 450,000 “brownfield” sites, abandoned or underutilized industrial and commercial properties where redevelopment is complicated by past contamination. Faster to come online, cheaper construction costs, infrastructure already wired for them, and those communities probably already have people familiar with the sites wanting to go back. Makes you wonder what money is changing hands to make building new sites, especially in the hottest areas of the country, seem like a good idea.
The Decision Criteria: Why Old Factories Work Not every abandoned factory is a viable data center. Developers look for specific conditions when evaluating adaptive reuse:
Grid Connection: Proximity to high-voltage transmission lines or existing substations is critical, as powering AI racks requires massive amounts of electricity.
Footprint and Zoning: The site must have sufficient contiguous acreage for server warehouses and cooling facilities and be located in a municipality that zones the land for industrial use.
Brownfield Status: Federal initiatives, such as EPA guidelines and incentives for Superfund and Brownfield sites, make repurposing tax-advantaged and legally streamlined.
I mean, Stargate generally ranks as a Top 10 to Top 20 all-time sci-fi franchises, and who needs that kind of audience? Did they hire some FOX execs over there? Amazon Has Dramatically Axed Its Stargate Revival, 6 Months After Its Announcement
I guess this explains all the issues with the Discover site and Quicken integration. Given my past experience with Capital One, I have to wonder how long it will be before they cancel my Discover card for not using it enough. Discover Credit Cards Will Become Capital One Cards Starting This Year
When I hear the ‘jobs equals worth’ argument against AI, I wonder what those people think of stay-at-home parents, artists, and others who derive more value from their passions than from doing disliked work just to survive.
Note, this is Cisco, not an AI firm, saying there is a real wave of threats coming from AI exploits. Guidance for defending in the age of AI-enabled attacks
Google is reducing AI limits as well Changes to Gemini model access and limits
Seeing political ads for Lindsey Graham in Texas. Wondering whether his ad buyers are incompetent or his campaign is so desperate that it is trying to get votes and donations from Texans?
This is just another example of why Paxton should not hold ANY office. Of course, Netflix tracks what you watch to suggest stuff you might want to see. Almost the point of it. Same with autoplay. Texas Sues Netflix For Allegedly ‘Spying’ On Customers
Makes building them in Texas look that much better, right? Amazon’s cloud services were largely back online on Friday after overheating at one of its data centers triggered an outage that impacted companies including cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.