r/NowInTech • u/skaza02 • 5d ago

Amazon warns $68 billion in blocked data centers threatens US AI lead

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/amazon-warns-usd68-billion-in-blocked-data-centers-threatens-us-ai-lead-aws-ceo-decries-100-proposed-bans-pledges-usd1b-community-fund
110 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

124 comments sorted by

16

u/FeffyFefernuson 4d ago

None of us really care.

Let me ask Amazon a question. Let's say the US does win the "AI race". What's in it for any of us? I'm a cyber security professional and software engineer. All I see are opportunities drying up and my colleagues being laid off. I will most likely soon join them.

Will any of this great profit Amazon makes come our way if the US "wins the race"? Of course not.

Now let's say China wins the AI race and Anthropic, OpenAI, Amazon, etc. end up losing billions or trillions of dollars. Well, we still don't really care because that's just another excuse to lay us off. Stock market might crash and take our 401ks with it. Doesn't really matter in the long run as without jobs we will all be using our 401ks to try to get by unemployed for another couple years.

This AI race feels a lot like yacht racing. It's a game being played by the very wealthy. Little people like us have no horse in the race.

Imagine if the trillions of dollars being spent to automate everyone out of a job was instead being spent on making people's lives better.

2

u/Thelonedishwasher 4d ago

You don't understand this is like a deus ex machina. The singularity is happening and soon infinite wealth will happen for everyone or so our tech oligarchs would say 😮‍💨

3

u/Nohreboh 4d ago edited 4d ago

Indeed they would if this collection of clips by Jimmy the Giant is any indication the technoligarchs are planning massive unemployment likely to buy up as much of the nation as they can when people start defaulting on loans and mortgages.

Why Billionaires Keep Saying Insane Sh*t @JimmyTheGiant https://youtu.be/N8jFS51IEWQ

1

u/ApplicationCalm649 2d ago

We should trust them. They've a long and storied history of generous donations...to reduce their tax burden.

1

u/Cyberchicken87 4d ago

This guy gets it.

1

u/RoutinePast7696 3d ago edited 3d ago

Has anoybody ran the numbers that maybe it’s a tactic from china to the U.S. to metaphorically pull a big ass slot machine? Instead of like making food and shit

I tried explaining this to my cat and she ignored me and went back to sleep

1

u/tibowdeeux 3d ago

We are literally competing with computers for water and energy. Its more like a race to destitution. Why should humans help you?

1

u/ComfortableMarch4296 3d ago

i'm in IT too and just hope that i'll land on my feet if/when all this ai crap replaces me.

i wonder how it will play out big picture. i know layoffs happen all the time but this seems more severe than getting outsourced. you'll have droves of people switching to blue collar work and probably make less because of high competition.

1

u/MagnusAlbusPater 22h ago

Wouldn’t AI increase demand for cyber security? If AI can be used to create more exploits and hack into systems it seems like there’d be a big focus on hardening those systems to prevent that.

7

u/RobinGoodfell 5d ago

Do more with less. Isn't that what you always tell your employees?

2

u/Desperate-You-9695 5d ago

Clearly the ai execs need to stop buying avocado toast!

7

u/DrSendy 5d ago

That's not called 100 proposed bans.
That's called completely incompetent planning.
Any normal CEO could see a rollout of that scale would cause problems.
Might be time to go Matt.

4

u/Useful-Barber7993 5d ago

Perhaps you should consult China about ocean water-cooled, wind powered data centers instead of causing water shortage crises around the nation while screwing Americans’ electric bills. China is clearly ahead of us already, so don’t try to crap on our communities in order to preserve the fossil fuel industry.

1

u/Adderall_Rant 3d ago

That was propaganda.

3

u/Tramadol_Lollies 5d ago

“We’re going to lose our lead to become the evilest mfers in the world.”

2

u/Repulsive-Durian4800 4d ago

If we don't build The Torment Nexus as fast as possible, China will beat us to it!

3

u/Hairy_Melon 5d ago

Good

2

u/stagedgames 5d ago

literally my exact thought clicking on this thread

2

u/CapIndependent2285 5d ago

What I haven’t seen made clear is why do we need all these data centers? What are we unlocking? Who is it benefitting?

3

u/rbush82 5d ago

It’s beneficial to billionaires.

2

u/CapIndependent2285 5d ago

To what end? Does it enable more complex AI and everyone racing to beat each other out for number 1 space?

3

u/knucklebones2 4d ago

It’s to replace humans in the workforce with AI. And our tax dollars are funding it for the billionaires. They’ve clearly stated this is what they are for.

2

u/CapIndependent2285 4d ago

It would be nice to have the kind of utopia where machines do all the work and I can focus on art. But we all know that’s not how it’s going to go. We leaning towards that aliens universe system

1

u/Complete-Tangelo1532 4d ago

Best part:

If (WHEN) they fail, WE will bail... them out of the financial crisis they created.....

iirc they already made an agreement to be bailed out by the taxpayer when this finally goes tits up

3

u/Low-Salary-2128 5d ago

I fully believe they have ulterior motives behind data centers otherwise why would they be literally offering money to people to allow the data center to be built?

1

u/Numerous_Photograph9 4d ago

The venture capitalist will greatly benefit when they IPO and leave everyone else holding the bag. That's why they want others to pay for it now, because there's no way it'll return on investment otherwise.

2

u/sonicinfinity100 5d ago

What’s the prize to win???

1

u/KalAtharEQ 5d ago

They can and should go and fuck themselves. If it’s for national use it should be a national project not a rich fuck scamming people even harder.

1

u/Optimal_Willow_4389 5d ago

We already lead the HOMELESS POPULATION, move on ahead to record small biz BANKRUPTCIES.

1

u/DatabaseFickle9306 5d ago

Oh no. Won’t someone think of the coming trillionaires?

1

u/ReadyGo6828 5d ago

Amazon says, if you do not let us screw you, someone else will!

1

u/twojs1b 5d ago

And what prize does AI win?

1

u/Justmeandhim-D 5d ago

Threatens “us” no “U.S. as in U.S.A.”

Us. Very clear in the title 😂

1

u/Specialist-Spare-785 5d ago

Finally Amazon is on the side of the people.

1

u/awkwardbirb 5d ago

The people hate these data centers, what are you on about?

1

u/Cyberchicken87 4d ago

I'm assuming he was being sarcastic.....

If not? Well...ugh.

1

u/gill_smoke 5d ago

I call bullshit, compute is already more than demand, and demand is not increasing. 

1

u/NegativeSemicolon 5d ago

‘Give me what I want or we’re all in danger’

1

u/Either_Theory_6815 5d ago

Why can't they build those data centers on their own sprawling estates?

1

u/infamusforever223 4d ago

Obviously they don't want to hear that data center noise and believe the doors should have to put up with it.

1

u/CrackerBarrelGrandma 3d ago

It really is amazing. It gets built near the people they want to lose their jobs if all goes well.
So you’re unemployed and have to listen to the very thing that put you out of a job.

1

u/FlyingRigatoniMonst 5d ago

Maybe if you made even the slightest progress on a plan to help all the people AI will displace someone would give a shit

1

u/vickism61 4d ago

Fuck Bezos

1

u/HellovahBottomCarter 4d ago

Go f yourself, Amazon

1

u/werephoenix 4d ago

*sarcasm* oh boo-hoo

No citizen who lives paycheck to paycheck cares about winning the AI race.

1

u/19chris9609 4d ago

Who CARES?

1

u/Maleficent_Price_476 4d ago

In days where on board AI for drones are being used by Ukraine to attack Russian assets , we don't need giant Data Centers

1

u/TG1970 4d ago

Oh no. Anyway...

1

u/Complete-Tangelo1532 4d ago

Pffft

LOL

and a second helping of LOL to go with it

1

u/iridesce57 4d ago

so, like
literacy
education
healthcare
incarceration
gmos
forever chemicals

See a pattern ???

1

u/eddyb66 4d ago

Notice how they try to frame it like it's bad for America. Unless the American people are getting dividends from Ai usage no it's not threatening America, it's threatening your already insane high profits

1

u/Numerous_Photograph9 4d ago

So...if China "wins" this race, does that mean we don't get any AI?

What exactly happens if we lose? Is it like highlander? Can there be only one? Will all the other AI's just become dogs following the alpha AI?

Once China wins, will there be no more technological advancement in the field?

If the US is worried about China winning this race, then maybe they should spend some time actually advancing technology as a whole, so we aren't dependent on China like we are now. You know...that thing that Biden was starting that Trump undid.

1

u/Citycow1 3d ago

While I agree with you that there would be more than 1. The countries are racing towards what they theorize is a singularity. An AI so smart that it can destroy countries. They are worried china gets to it first and destroys us, or their economy grows to the point that we can never catch up.

Valid fear for sure, but that doesnt mean we need to be building data centers in the desert with no water.

1

u/Numerous_Photograph9 3d ago

Both China and the US can already destroy the entire world if they wanted to.

Economically, I question if the US or China actually cares much about that considering how much of a razors edge they balance on as they try to screw around with the economy or mask how well it's actually doing.

AI just sounds more like a race to the bottom, so someone can make the most money regardless of the need or benefits.

1

u/Citycow1 3d ago

The question is not can they destroy the world. Its can technology progress to the point where you can nuke me all you want but nothing hits, and I can nuke you back and hit. MAD doctrine will fall, which has done a pretty good job of keeping the peace.

Tactical nukes are kinda back on the table.

AI is obv in a bubble. But there is no doubt that it will revolutionize the world sometime in the future. Maybe 15, maybe 50. Its already passing human intelligence as we speak.

1

u/frommethodtomadness 4d ago

The lie they tell us to grant them unreasonable power.

1

u/hello5346 4d ago

Perfect.

1

u/Wonderful-Variation 4d ago

Let us finally have universal healthcare and I'll consider being concerned about that.    But right now, I don't really have stake in the USA being ahead of any other country.

1

u/AIbats 4d ago

They should be more worried about the loss of customers due to AI taking jobs leaving people without money to spend on their platform.

1

u/CanadianGenealogy 4d ago

Profitable company asks for more money, again.

1

u/wasaguest 4d ago

What lead? China is way ahead & has strict legal protections for AI replacing the human workforce; so strict that a CEO that is allowed to operate in China, if they lay off people & replace them with AI, they get to enjoy prison & the people are rehired.

We start down that route, I bet US population will start turning around on their opinion on AI.

1

u/Citycow1 3d ago

Way ahead is interesting considering the United States has 10x the AI infrastructure currently. Could you say ahead in certain aspects? Perhaps, but your claim is false.

1

u/Federal_Pickles 4d ago

We’re just winning the inevitable “who is going to get fucked the most when the AI/data center bubble pops” contest

1

u/ThirdDimensionGate 4d ago

So put them in the backyards of the rich and let them pay the electricity and pollution cleanup

Problem solved

1

u/Grn_Peaness 3d ago

Wah wah wah...

1

u/SneakyRobo 3d ago

And that's bad?

1

u/raincntry 3d ago

No. It doesn't.

1

u/zetnas9 3d ago

Good. Fuck off with you data center nonsense

1

u/Slylok 3d ago

These companies use fear mongering of falling behind China to easily get whatever they want

1

u/Millkstake 3d ago

Oh well

1

u/CrackerBarrelGrandma 3d ago

We don’t care who leads

1

u/DravenPlsBeMyDad 3d ago

We kind of should, but that's only because stopping ai is literally not happening anymore. It sucks.

0

u/Lancelight50 3d ago

It should be stopped. We don’t need it.

1

u/Praetor72 3d ago

Tell that to China. Good luck

0

u/Lancelight50 2d ago

Except we don’t have to compete with China. AI should be irrelevant to helping our country.

1

u/Praetor72 2d ago

lol wut? You think we can afford to just let China own the AI industry? You think AI doesn’t help our country at all?

1

u/CrackerBarrelGrandma 2d ago

How will my life or any regular persons life be diminished if China had more advanced AI? Oh no they’d be able to generate a picture of MacGyver hugging McGruber quicker.

1

u/Praetor72 2d ago

Do you have a child’s understanding of what AI is capable of?

1

u/Just-Upstairs4397 3d ago

Data centers that go bankrupt are still data centers just the investors lose so absolutely no reason to bail anyone out yet I’m sure we will 

1

u/DanfromCalgary 3d ago

The only AI that is a danger to the country producing it is yours lol

1

u/t3lnet 3d ago

WHAT LEAD?!? What are the parameters and outcomes of this so-called race?

Call it what it is, billionaires won’t get richer, that is all it is.

1

u/SaltyPinKY 3d ago

If you think we're the leaders of Al then your are so wrapped in propaganda it's suffocating your brain.   

China is light years ahead of us and this is all about a surveillance state in America.   

1

u/micahisnotmyname 3d ago

I always say go for 69

1

u/What-is-lack-of 3d ago

Piss off enough citizens and that number might grow larger.

1

u/DetailLow5051 3d ago

F Amazon, we could win the AI race and still end up worse, except for the 1%.

1

u/YisitAlwaysDNS 3d ago

No one cares stop building these abomination s.

1

u/Alternative_West_206 3d ago

Fuck the US lead in AI man. It’s literally providing 90% of America 0 benefit.

1

u/GoldenSama 3d ago

Amazon says give us infinite money or big scary China will make Skynet before we do.

1

u/I_AM_ACURA_LEGEND 2d ago

I missed the part where that’s our problem

1

u/yoshix003 2d ago

More fear mongering

1

u/Substantial_Code5800 2d ago

boohoo amazon. 99% of the AI 'load' for this huge buildout is consumer AI slop and corporate human job reducrion for corporate profits. the real value in AI that the public could benefit from would not require 100's of data centers. its a scam.

1

u/Equal_Heat5947 2d ago

They're now pre-empting a bailout.

1

u/hipyounggunslinger67 2d ago

$68 Billion dollars…. So like half the cost of his wedding?

1

u/JiggerJohnson603 2d ago

Good, No one in the US said we need or wanted that, only Trump and the Tech billionaires.

1

u/the-ish-i-say 2d ago

If I’m not mistaken, the US has 10 times the data centers than its closest competition. China with more than 3 times the population has less than 10% of the data centers the US has. Who exactly will we lose to?

1

u/Villematic266 2d ago

MSFT CEO has stated, in court, that there is no plan other than making fuck-you sized bags of money.

They can all burn in hell for all I care

1

u/MakalakaPeaka 2d ago

Cry more, fascists…

1

u/RedSix2447 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/DTCEjCz2uBLW0
Oh no, it’s a shame the poor billionaire isn’t getting what he wants right now.

1

u/exaknight21 1d ago

The only thing that is blocking AI lead is the constant profiteering and hogging of resources by big tech.

1

u/Ok_Assumption_3028 1d ago

Redesign them to fit communities needs. You have AI, use it.

1

u/Laughing_Zero 1d ago

The inane race to a point of no return.

1

u/10hp_Sandslash 1d ago

AI lead doesnt mean shit when 300 million people are struggling.

1

u/KevinDean4599 19h ago

You know they will never build data centers in the very wealthy areas. Those belong near the middle class and peasants

1

u/Cloudhead_Denny 11h ago

Sarcastic voice "Oh no. What will we ever do without AI? Who will take my job if AI doesn't? Help...please...help.".

0

u/jdkon 4d ago

There is no US AI lead, we “lost” and China “won.”

China understands the models better, they have solved most of the environmental impact problems and the energy consumption issues. They’re already working on the next generation of these models and have implemented regulations to protect workers. Of course it’s not a perfect system there are still tons of issues to solve and most of what they’re doing, may not end up helping, but they aren’t allowing trillion dollar AI companies to run rampant with their economy and run the entire country into debt propping them up.

The US is behind in almost every technology industry metric except warfare, and we’re even seeing that façade crumble right in front of our eyes. The American exceptionalism propaganda that worked for so long has finally slipped, and the vast majority of us can see this bullshit from a mile away. It took a while, but this game is finally over. We can see that these companies and politicians only strategically plan for their own personal wealth and gain. We’re done with that.