The United States must accelerate the development of artificial intelligence data centers to maintain its global leadership and counter China's aggressive investment in the technology, according to former Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
Perry argues that AI represents a critical geopolitical imperative that will shape military capabilities, scientific advancement, and economic power for the next half-century. He warns that falling behind in this race is not an option for the U.S.
While the U.S. possesses the engineering capacity to develop advanced AI systems, the broader challenge lies in fostering public support for the rapid pace of infrastructure development required. Tech companies are announcing multibillion-dollar AI data centers, which demand significant resources, including electricity, water, and land. This expansion raises questions about how the benefits are distributed within communities.
Historically, major technological disruptions in the U.S., such as railroads and the automobile industry, eventually created new opportunities and wealth, helping to integrate workers into the middle class. However, AI's impact may be different. The companies building AI are achieving massive valuations with a smaller workforce compared to historical industrial giants. Furthermore, AI threatens jobs in professional sectors that were once considered secure, such as software development, accounting, and legal analysis, leading to widespread anxiety among the workforce.
Perry suggests that a "domestic social contract" is essential for public acceptance. He draws parallels to extractive industries like oil and mining, and renewable energy developers, all of which have faced community demands for tangible, long-term benefits beyond immediate job creation. For AI data centers to gain social license, host communities should receive lasting assets. This could include permanently upgraded municipal electric grids, dedicated AI institutes at local community colleges, standardized apprenticeship programs for high-paying technical careers, sovereign compute resources for regional universities and startups, and local venture funds supported by tech capital.
Without such investments, AI infrastructure projects risk stalling due to public backlash, increased local regulations, and opposition from zoning boards. The article posits that public trust is an intangible but critical asset for any transformational technology, and the AI industry is not immune to public sentiment.
The critical question for America's future is not only its engineering prowess in AI but also whether the country can build and maintain a sense of shared benefit from these advancements. History suggests that the public's perception of whether these systems serve their interests will be a decisive factor, potentially shaping the trajectory of AI development long before technological milestones are reached.