this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
811 points (99.5% liked)
Fuck AI
6623 readers
1069 users here now
"We did it, Patrick! We made a technological breakthrough!"
A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.
AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
They were throwing around "500" for 5-6 years.
But as someone else pointed out in the meeting. The contract doesn't say they will guarantee hiring anyone local nor any specific number.
And that the only reason they are floating the idea of using union workers in the first place is for the tax breaks.
They get like a 20 year tax break from using union to build.
What I've seen is a lot of moving people from outside the area. Suddenly every apartment is full with wait lists since tiny rural areas can't really handle the sudden flood of people. I'm sure the roads aren't generally ready for it either and since its only short-term, any development based on the influx is unsustainable if those people move away once the project is done...
Someone asked if they were planning on using the train railways to bring in building materials.
We already have problems with freight trains as they run through the area 24/7.
They made a 2ndary rail line a few years ago that still runs through part of Springfield. (More north vs the original that literally ran through downtown). But the two lines still converge. So we still get train congestion all the time.
Thry often stop and sit on the tracks for long periods of time. Half hour or so.
There have been a few incidents where emergency services couldn't get to rural people from being blocked in by trains.
So that's a concern. We don't need more people blocked off by more trains.
Plus the North train line was put through a poor black neighborhood. That's a whole other deal.
Super shitty.
It was obviously chosen to go against people with the least power to fight back. The burden of the trains are mostly now on poor blacks. So they would get even more train traffic if trains are used for the data center.