The council member proposes banning data centers; environmental groups criticize it as an ecological disaster! Meanwhile, the First Lady is walking into the White House with an AI robot.

U.S. lawmakers propose banning new large AI data centers, criticizing tech giants for causing ecological disasters. However, the Trump administration continues to actively promote AI development, with the First Lady even showcasing an AI robot at the White House, sparking polarized debates.

AI Data Center Boom Sparks Proposal to Ban 20-Megawatt Facilities

As the wave of data center construction surges in the U.S., opposition has also emerged. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced legislation to prohibit new data centers with peak loads exceeding 20 MW until comprehensive regulations are established by Congress.

Sanders’ office cited concerns previously raised by tech leaders about AI, including Elon Musk, who warned AI could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons, as well as Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Geoffrey Hinton—all calling for strict AI regulation.

The UK’s The Guardian also referenced surveys indicating that over half of American adults were worried about AI proliferation by June 2025, with 60% supporting stricter oversight by December.

Data Centers Consume Water and Power, Sparking Environmental Concerns

Data centers require大量冷卻用水，引發乾旱區域的爭議。生物多樣性中心（Center for Biological Diversity）的一份報告估計，未來資料中心可能佔據美國電力行業總排放許可值的近一半。

此外，資料中心的龐大用電也推升電價，《彭博社》分析指出，資料中心密集區域的電費在五年內已飆升了267%。

圖源：生物多樣性中心 10 月發布的報告 生物多樣性中心（Center for Biological Diversity）報告估計，未來資料中心恐占美國電力部門總排放容許值近半。

Lawmakers Criticize Tech Giants’ Lobbying; Environmental Groups Warn of Ecological Disasters

Ocasio-Cortez directly stated that AI development is rife with corruption, driven by corporate giants lobbying politicians to turn a blind eye. Camden Weber, an expert at the Center for Biological Diversity, warned that the surge in data centers for AI development is causing ecological disasters, with emissions suffocating communities.

He emphasized that companies consume大量飲用水並推升電費，必須及時暫停這樣破壞環境的行為。

Nonprofit Food and Water Watch Policy Director Mitch Jones called for an immediate halt to new AI data centers, pointing out that this greedy industry has caught the U.S. off guard and that it remains uncertain whether the industry can operate safely.

• Further reading: AI competition consumes大量能源！Microsoft CEO: AI must quickly benefit more humans, or it will become a bubble

Trump Supports AI and Crypto Companies; Sanders’ Proposal Likely to Fail

Amid congressional debates, the Global Alliance Summit for a Better Future has commenced. First Lady Melania Trump appeared at the White House press conference with the Figure 03 humanoid robot developed by Figure AI, walking the red carpet. The robot briefly delivered a speech expressing honor in participating in the tech education movement before leaving. The White House stated that the summit gathered 45 world leaders along with giants like Google and Microsoft.

Trump is also forming a technology advisory committee, planning to include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. Based on recent policies, Trump appears committed to creating a regulatory environment that positions the U.S. as a leader in AI and cryptocurrency industries during his second term.

Therefore, The Guardian speculates that Sanders’ new proposal is unlikely to pass the Senate, especially given the Trump administration’s active push for unrestricted AI development and the ongoing AI arms race with China. Most members of both parties have rejected the bill, with some lawmakers stating that halting data center construction is equivalent to raising a white flag to China.

However, this bill might be seen as an initial attempt at AI regulation. In the future, the government will inevitably face issues such as AI model review, preventing unemployment crises, AI chip exports, and assessing AI’s environmental impact.

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