Hodan Omaar

For decades, data centers were the quiet, reliable engines of the information economy, operating in the background of global commerce and daily life. But with the rise of artificial intelligence, these facilities have been thrust into the public and political spotlight. Concerns continue to grow about what this expansion means for energy systems, water resources, and local infrastructure. But the root causes of these anxieties are poorly understood and frequently misattributed. Too often, policy responses target the scale of AI deployment rather than its systemic impact.