Getting almost too late to turn this narrative around, but OpenAI tries to make the case for data centers in a new video about Abilene.
@manton So, if you're Abilene, what cash deposit would you demand of OpenAI to cover abandoning a datacenter? To cover the harms its daily use emits locally in heat damage, potable water waste, and power prices? What would compensate for making Abilene a less attractive place to live, work, or start a business? What financial security do you need to make you whole when OpenAI or its creditors walk away in bankruptcy? When there's nobody to sue?
@evanwolf If Abilene thought OpenAI was going to abandon it, I’m sure they wouldn’t have done the deal. Or maybe they would anyway, for the short-term construction jobs and tax revenue? Businesses do fail all the time. Although in this case they could probably rent out the compute like SpaceX is doing.
@manton I’m thankful I don’t live in Abilene anymore. It’s a sad city in many ways. I hope the revenue from this massive project restores something to the city instead of further degrading it.
@manton if a ‘prenup’ makes sense in a marriage of two people - sure as hell makes sense for a municipality and business come to a similar arrangement - after all - ‘Corporations are people too’.
@tinyroofnail “Not good for anything” says the boomer (in the Stegner/Berry sense) because of the previous hard work of other boomers eradicating all the stickers that stood in the way of progress. May stubborn, unreasonable stickers bloom by the millions.