Panel members at the University of Scranton are discussing the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence and data centers.
Community members gathered at “The High Cost of AI” program in the Pearn Auditorium, where they heard from three guest speakers. The panel emphasized the negative effects a data center will have on air, water, and land qualities.
“If we build these now and the technology changes, it becomes a stranded asset, then we’re at risk for. a three-year moratorium, a great idea also because it will give the technology time to see where it’s going to go,” says Josephine Gingerich.
They also discussed how to slow the construction of data centers in our area by pushing for changes to local legislation, as the number of proposed data centers continues to grow across northeastern and central Pennsylvania.