U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds agrees that artificial intelligence data centers raise questions about power prices, but says the tradeoff to ensure data is stored securely is worth it.
Donalds is the chosen gubernatorial candidate of the AI sector, as evidenced by its $5 million bet on him via Leading the Future, a super PAC launched by OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, 8VC founder Joe Lonsdale and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
But in his latest comments, he agreed that “the power generation question with AI is real.”
“Moving forward in the state of Florida, these data center projects are going to have to prove that they’re not going to take away from the power grid, that they’re not going to raise utility prices on Florida consumers,” Donalds said on “Mornings with Maria.”
“That’s going to be critical in this. But we also have to have a plan of how we’re going to proceed forward.”
Donalds suggested that for Floridians concerned about data security, it makes sense to have facilities in the state rather than other states or countries.
“I know when people use their phones, or use their computers, or they’re streaming shows, or they’re using AI, all the search is done out of data centers. So in Florida, the question is, where do you want the data warehouse? Do you want the data warehouse in California, Northern Virginia, New York? Or do you want a warehouse in Florida? Or do you want that data warehoused overseas?”
Donalds said “making sure our kids are protected, and parents are well-informed about what’s happening” is important, but so too is a “serious strategy about how we move forward.”
Donalds previously made supportive comments about the future of AI in an appearance on Dan Bongino’s podcast.
“I really believe we’re on the cusp of something magical happening in the next five to 10 years,” Donalds said.
“I know the concerns about displacement, but with every change in our economy, there are always concerns about displacement. That’s why we are a free market capitalist economy because the creative destruction of the market system actually leads to future job opportunities.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a different tack, proposing an AI bill of rights.
He has linked artificial intelligence to what he calls an “age of darkness and deceit,” one in which tech overlords are poised to displace Floridians from their jobs, siphon resources to power data centers, and impose new intellectual modalities via amoral AI. He has also voiced concerns about Chinese-created AI tools, exploitative deepfakes, the security of personal identifying information, and insurance claims written by AI programs.
One of Donalds’ opponents in the Republican field, former House Speaker Paul Renner, has attempted to stake out the DeSantis AI-skeptic lane in wake of the industry supporting Donalds.
“The pro-AI political group ‘Leading the Future,’ founded and run by a team of Chuck Schumer liberals, is now attempting to interfere in Florida’s Republican primary with a $5-million ad buy to prop up Byron Donalds,” Renner said.
“I am calling on Byron Donalds to immediately reject this committee’s assistance, renounce his support for the massive expansion of AI data centers in Florida, and take down the ‘For Sale’ sign he has placed on our state.”