OpenAI’s George Osborne says datacentre nimbys holding back Britain
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Former chancellor, now senior figure at OpenAI, says UK needs datacentres to maintain ‘sovereignty’ over AI tech UK politics live – latest updates Datacentre nimbys are holding Britain back, George Osborne has said in reaction to nationwide protests about the giant water- and energy-guzzling structu
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Caption: 'Datacentres will save Britain,' but who will save the landscapes?' - George Osborne, with a crowd of datacentre nimbys looking on expectantly.
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Based on the original story on theguardian.com.
Editor's note
George Osborne's remarks highlight the tensions between technological ambition and public concerns, underscoring the complex challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental and community impacts. As the debate rages on, it's clear the UK must find a path that respects sovereignty and sustainability.
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Panel 1
A shot of a sunny park with kids playing. Alex, the inventor, stands in the middle, beaming with enthusiasm. Sam, standing next to him, gives a nod, looking thoughtful.
Alex: Imagine if we could harness all that unused park space and create super cool AI datacenters! It would make Britain the AI superpower of the world!
Sam: It's a great idea, Alex. But let's not forget, the protests are about more than just aesthetics. There's also the issue of energy consumption and the impact on local wildlife areas.
Panel 2
Cut to a montage of protests in various locations with different activists speaking. In the background, we see a giant AI datacenter being built.
Protestor 1: We don't want giant, energy-hungry datacenters in our backyard, especially not if they're going to create more waste and pollution.
Protestor 2: And what about privacy? Is it really worth the risk to our data?
Panel 3
A scene of chaos, with the giant datacenter suddenly malfunctioning and causing widespread internet disruption. The park is now silent, with only Alex and Sam watching from a distance.
Alex: Oh no, did someone just turn off the internet? Isn't that the future we want to see? A world where everyone can be a little more creative, a little more connected.
Sam: I guess we need to find a better solution, Alex. Maybe not as big and flashy as the datacenters, but still innovative and forward-thinking. What do you say, we start a community garden instead?
Alex: Sounds like a plan, Sam. At least we won't have to worry about all that data waste or energy consumption. And maybe we can teach a bit about the importance of nature and sustainability along the way.
Sam: Now that's a plan I can get behind.
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