Who pays for the AI boom? Join campaigners, lawyers, activists and journalists for an evening on all things Big Tech data centres

Big Tech and AI companies are racing to build ever-larger "hyperscale" data centres, and communities around the world are living with what that costs. Energy demand is straining public grids. Vast carbon emissions are throwing more fuel on the fire of climate change. Huge amounts of water are being used in drought-prone regions. There are land grabs and noise pollution. Environmental safeguards are weak, and communities get little consent, transparency or democratic say over where and how this infrastructure is built. The jobs, investment and growth promised to host communities often never arrive, while the profits flow to Big Tech.

Join us for an evening of analysis, campaigning, storytelling and organising on one of the biggest infrastructure fights of our time.

What's on

Panel discussion and Q&A, recorded live for the Macrodose podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/macrodose/id1646528688)

James Meadway, Paris Marx, Sarah Jaffe and Martha Dark discuss the economic, social and environmental stakes of hyperscale data centre development.

Book launch: Hyperscale by Paris Marx

A reading from Hyperscale (https://hyperscalebook.com/), Paris's new investigation into the AI data centre industry. Copies will be on sale, and Paris will be availalbe to sign them.

Lightning talks from the frontlines

Throughout the evening you'll hear short talks from people resisting data centre expansion UK wide, covering the campaigns and legal battles already underway. Including Global Action Plan, Bugs Life, Residents' Associations, Spotlight on Corruption & more.

Drinks and organising space

Meet others who are challenging unchecked data centre expansion, including organisers, reporters, campaigners, lawyers and funders, and work out what comes next together.

This event is supported by Global Fund for a New Economy and Luminate

Description supplied by the event organiser.