GARY WISENBAKER: Who benefits when America stops building? China
Americans built the railroads that connected a continent, highways that connected a nation, power grids that electrified rural America, and communications networks all transforming the world.
Americans have always been builders. Americans built the railroads that connected a continent, highways that connected a nation, power grids that electrified rural America, and communications networks all transforming the world. Every generation has faced critics who warned against growth, development, and progress. But Americans understood a simple truth: to lead, you must build. While the subject changes, the lesson remains the same. One might think the realm of academia would grasp this lesson, yet it does not. The race for artificial intelligence (AI) dominance is now the most important strategic competition of our time. The nation that leads in artificial intelligence will gain enormous advantages in economic growth, scientific research, military capability, cybersecurity, and global influence. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently put it bluntly observing that artificial intelligence dominance will decide who is “going to control the world. ”Email newsletter signupChina’s leaders know this. Chinese President Xi Jinping has described AI as a strategic priority and has directed enormous investments into computing infrastructure, semiconductors, and data centers racing to create the power to control the next generation of technology. That should concern every American. Data centers are not glamorous. Most people will never visit one. Yet these facilities are the backbone of artificial intelligence. They provide the computing power needed to train AI systems, process information, support cloud services, and drive the modern digital economy. Yet, here in the United States, a growing movement seeks to slow, delay, or outright stop the construction of data centers. There are obviously legitimate concerns. Data centers require land, electricity, and water. Citizens deserve honest answers about environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, tax incentives, and quality-of-life issues. And this requires transparency and accountability. But what has emerged in recent years is not organic. Researchers, members of Congress, and policy organizations increasingly argue that a sophisticated influence campaign is fueling opposition to American AI infrastructure. A report by the nonpartisan Bitcoin Policy Institute alleges that Chinese state media, activist networks, and foreign-funded nonprofit organizations are working in tandem to amplify opposition to data centers and AI development in the United States. The report elucidates that this effort is to slow or stop American development and specifically points to Chinese state-controlled media outlets that regularly warn Americans about the environmental and economic dangers of data centers while simultaneously celebrating China’s own rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Ironically, however, China is not holding public rallies demanding a moratorium on Chinese data centers. Chinese activists are not protesting Beijing’s construction of AI infrastructure. China is building aggressively because its leaders understand what is at stake. Yet AI panicans here are demanding that America stand down. It was once assigned that Vladimir Lenin praised such a special corps as “useful idiots. ” (Though it was probably the term of socialist economist Ludwig von Mises. ) These foot soldiers would co-op and subvert democratic processes propagandizing according to Moscow’s dictates. But, in this case, China’s. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have proposed legislation that would place a moratorium on new AI data-center construction. Similar campaigns have appeared at state and local levels across the country. Dozens of local governments have already enacted restrictions or pauses on new projects. These efforts benefit China, not the United States of America. Every delayed project means less computing power. Every cancelled project means fewer jobs, less investment, and reduced technological capacity. Every year spent arguing about whether America should build AI infrastructure is a year China spends building it. Recent investigations have also raised questions about the role of foreign money flowing through nonprofit organizations involved in anti-data-center campaigns. Congressional committees are examining those allegations, and lawmakers have called for greater scrutiny of foreign-funded activism that may affect national security interests. These efforts should continue whether or not this is ultimately confirmed as the larger strategic reality remains unchanged. China wants to win the AI race; this cannot be allowed. This does not mean every data center belongs in every community. Local governments should carefully evaluate proposals. Environmental standards should be enforced. Infrastructure impacts should be addressed responsibly. This is critical. But America cannot afford to adopt a philosophy of “build nowhere” or the simplistic “NO!” to data centers. History teaches that great powers do not decline solely because their competitors become stronger. They decline because they lose confidence in themselves. The question facing America today is not whether artificial intelligence will transform the future: it will. In the end, nations do not win technological competitions by filing lawsuits, imposing moratoriums, blocking construction, or peddling propaganda scripted with misinformation and prevarications emanating from and by hostile foreign interests. While America can and must win the AI race, it can and must build to do so. Gary Wisenbaker, BA, JD, (gwisenbaker@c21realtyadvisors. com) is currently a REALTOR© with Century 21 Realty Advisors in Valdosta, Georgia, and is licensed in both Georgia and Florida.