The People v. Hasty AI

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is often treated as something abstract, but the systems behind it are built on physical infrastructure that directly affects the places where people live. This project looks at the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly in Illinois, and explores what happens when development is driven by speed and cost without fully accounting for local impact. While these facilities are often framed as necessary for technological progress, they also place pressure on energy systems, water resources, and surrounding communities in ways that are not always visible or clearly communicated. To better understand this, the project introduces the idea of an “annoyance threshold,” which represents the point at which multiple stressors—environmental, social, and economic—begin to accumulate and affect everyday life. Using a combination of case studies, including both existing and proposed data center developments, and an interactive platform that maps these sites alongside county-level indicators, the project makes it possible to see how these pressures build over time and across locations. Rather than focusing on individual projects in isolation, the analysis emphasizes how impacts overlap and compound, especially in regions where multiple developments are clustered. The goal is not to argue against technological growth, but to highlight the need for clearer visibility, better communication, and more balanced decision-making so that communities are not left absorbing the unintended consequences of rapid AI infrastructure expansion.